Francis DeBernardo

Francis DeBernardo is executive director of New Ways Ministry.

By this Author

Pope Francis smiles as he meets with some 30 priests — Canossian Fathers and priests from the Diocese of Rome — in the pastoral center of St. George of Acilia Parish in south Rome Dec. 21, 2023. (CNS/Vatican Media)

Dec 28, 2023

Vatican document represents Pope Francis' pastoral revolution for gay Catholics

The Vatican document that allows blessings for same-sex couples is revolutionary, argues Francis DeBernardo. It is good news for both LGBTQ+ people and anyone who was marginalized or excluded by Catholic Church policies.

(Unsplash/Sharon McCutcheon, Nick Karvounis)

Oct 23, 2020

How things in the church may change after Pope Francis' civil union comments

Commentary: When a pope speaks, even non-doctrinally, he sends forth ripples that have an effect on how policy and pastoral ministry is carried out on all levels of the church.

Franciscan Fr. Chris Keenan, chaplain for the New York Fire Department, reads the last homily from Franciscan Fr. Mychal Judge (on poster, center) during the Walk of Remembrance in New York City Sept. 11 this year. (CNS/Octavio Duran)

Sep 22, 2017

New Ways Ministry’s response to Michael Sean Winters’ column

Michael Sean Winters’ recent column, “Focus on Mychal Judge as a ‘gay saint’ is problematic,” is misleading on several counts. First of all, New Ways Ministry had no role in the 2010 election of the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Aug 17, 2017

British bishops tackle anti-LGBT bullying in Catholic schools

The booklet Made in God's Image offers a solid Catholic rationale for countering bullying and provides lesson plans for discussing respect for lesbian, gay and bisexual individuals.