Spanish LGBT Christians Prepare Proposals for Vatican on Pastoral Care for Families
In September 2026, the Spanish Christian LGBT organization CRISMHOM announced the preparation of proposals for a synodal gathering of Catholic bishops from around the world, scheduled to take place at the Vatican from October 7 to 14, 2026, under the leadership of Pope Leo XIV. The meeting is convened by the General Secretariat of the Synod and the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life to mark the tenth anniversary of Pope Francis’s apostolic exhortation Amoris Laetitia (“The Joy of Love”), under the theme “Proclaiming the Gospel with Today’s Families.”
According to a statement released by the family ministry of the CRISMHOM association , the initiative seeks to reconsider paragraph 251 of the 2016 document Amoris Laetitia. That paragraph asserted that there are no grounds for considering homosexual unions to be in any way similar or even remotely analogous to God’s plan for marriage, and largely framed the presence of LGBT believers in families as a pastoral difficulty or problem. The organization aims to submit testimonies and theological reflections from LGBT believers and their parents to the synodal process, encouraging the Church to acknowledge diverse family realities, overcome prejudice, and foster meaningful pastoral accompaniment.
The question of the place of LGBT people and their families within the Catholic Church remains a topic of ongoing theological debate. The official doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church, articulated in the Catechism, defines marriage exclusively as an indissoluble union between a man and a woman, open to the generation of life. In December 2023, the Vatican declaration Fiducia Supplicans permitted spontaneous, non-liturgical pastoral blessings for same-sex couples while keeping the doctrine of marriage unchanged. Conservative prelates and theologians have consistently cautioned against blurring traditional understandings of Christian family life, while pastoral and reform-oriented groups advocate for greater openness and pastoral welcome.
CRISMHOM (Comunidad Cristiana de Lesbianas, Gays, Transexuales y Bisexuales de Madrid / Cristianas y Cristianos de Madrid Homosexuales) is a Madrid-based ecumenical Christian LGBT organization founded in 2006. The association brings together believers across denominations, hosts regular prayer meetings, social and educational initiatives, and is a member of the European Forum of LGBT Christian Groups.
Previously, in July 2026, CRISMHOM representatives were invited to an official meeting with Pope Leo XIV during his visit to Spain, marking the first time a Spanish LGBT Catholic group participated directly in an official papal event in the country.
