Mark Crompton

It is better to have lived and lost than never to have lived at all.

[James Martin, SJ @JamesMartinSJ]

Dear friends: I wanted to say a few words about our weekend Outreach conference, in light of the Holy Spirit.

First, as I’ve mentioned before, Conor Reidy, who now runs Outreach as its executive director; Jack Consolie, the assistant director; and Alessandra Rose, our development director, were responsible for the amazing weekend. Conor, Jack and Alessandra are immense gifts from God to the LGBTQ Catholic community.

Besides the moving liturgies, the lively panels, the thoughtful keynoters and the joy-filled conversations, there are two things I want to highlight. The first is not simply Cardinal McElroy’s quietly historic homily (posted at https://t.co/0WdS4JydIY) but his very presence.

Not long ago, the idea that the cardinal-archbishop of any diocese would welcome a group of LGBTQ Catholics at a Mass he was celebrating and say, as he did, that it was a “privilege” to be with them, would have been deemed insane. But this has now happened twice: once with Cardinal Gregory in 2024 and now with Cardinal McElroy. Things change.

Second, I want to say how amazed I am by Outreach’s growth. I’ll spare you the “origin story,” but when we began five years ago, no one expected that we would have a conference with almost 500 participants at Georgetown University with the local ordinary celebrating Mass for us. I certainly didn’t. All weekend I kept looking around and thinking, “How did we get here?”

We got here thanks to Conor, Jack and Alessandra (as well as Mike O’Loughlin, Ryan Di Corpo and Jai Sen before them), our young adult committee, our music team, our volunteers, our friends at America Media, and many others. But mainly we got here with the help of the Holy Spirit. If I didn’t know where Outreach was going, the Holy Spirit did. All weekend this psalm refrain came to me: “This is the Lord’s doing. And it is marvelous in our eyes.”

I’m longing to see where the Spirit will lead next.

(Photo by Kevin Christopher Robles for Outreach)

[Dan McClellan @maklelan]

New in the mail: The T&T Clark Handbook of Sexualities in the Bible and Its Reception, edited by Chris Greenough & Caroline Blyth.

[James Martin, SJ @JamesMartinSJ]

As the wonderful @OutrchCatholic 2026 weekend ends, we want to say a special thanks to our two keynoters, Kerry Robinson and James F. Keenan, SJ; and the presider at our Sunday Vigil Mass, Cardinal Robert McElroy. Kerry shared with us her "moral heroes," laying out a vision of generosity and hope; Jim Keenan spoke of how vulnerability and recognizing the other are the precursors to charity; and Cardinal McElroy spoke of mercy and compassion (and brought many to tears with his initial welcome). Each of these people (as well as all our panelists and volunteers) are tremendously busy, but made time to join our community of LGBTQ Catholics this weekend. We are very grateful to @KerryAlys, Jim and Cardinal McElroy.

[Ryan Di Corpo @corpo_ryan]

A tremendous thanks to Cardinal Robert W. McElroy, the archbishop of Washington, for celebrating Mass during the @OutrchCatholic conference @Georgetown. The text of his homily is below:

https://t.co/KWB2UFHAMU

@WashArchdiocese

[James Martin, SJ @JamesMartinSJ]

News: Cardinal Robert McElroy, Archbishop of Washington, celebrated Mass for 500 participants (some pictured here) at the @OutrchCatholic conference for LGBTQ Catholics at @Georgetown today. We will post his homily, which moved many to tears, later. So grateful for His Eminence.

[Mark Crompton @MarkCrompton]

@JamesMartinSJ @Georgetown @OutrchCatholic I wish I could be there with you. Hopefully, I will return next year. 🙏

[Mark Crompton @MarkCrompton]

@BurnsZoe @BurnsZoe Fame at last! 😍

[Daily Romania @daily_romania]

Hungarian PM Péter Magyar allows Pride march to take place in Budapest, reversing Orbán-era ban

[Mark Crompton @MarkCrompton]

I'm wondering, this morning, how it is possible to relate to others who support a mindless populism and a preferential option for billionaires and millionaires? 🤔

[James Martin, SJ @JamesMartinSJ]

News: By including (and publishing) the testimonies of two LGBTQ Catholics in a Synod final report, the church has taken a significant step forward. https://t.co/aF5Ig4RVhL

[James Martin, SJ @JamesMartinSJ]

A major step forward for the Catholic Church: The results of Study Group #9 from the @Synod_va have been released, on "emerging doctrinal, pastoral, and ethical issues." (NB: the word "emerging" replaces the original term "controversial.") The report includes the testimony of two LGBTQ Catholics. As far as I know, this is the first time that such detailed stories of LGBTQ people have been included in an official Vatican report. (At the very least, it's extremely rare.) These testimonies are described by the Study Group as "cases in listening," which aided their discernment. One testimony is from a person in the USA, the other from a person in Portugal. Both speak movingly about their relationships with God, Jesus and the church, as well as the pain that they have experienced in response to how they have sometimes been treated by the church. Listening in this way to LGBTQ people is a major step forward for the Catholic Church.

The entire report, "Theological criteria and synodal methodologies for shared discernment of emerging doctrinal, pastoral, and ethical issues," is here: https://t.co/bgQOYSm4wS

[Mark Crompton @MarkCrompton]

@BUSAPAR3 Just missed you - I was there last week! 🤣🤣🤣

[Barnacle @Barnaclelpool]

Thats right, just THREE WEEKS to go! 🤩🐚

Barnacle Bar and Restaurant is coming to you October 2025 - we can't wait to show off what we've been working on 💙

#newopening #liverpoolfood #liverpoolbars #gastropub

[Barnacle @Barnaclelpool]

We just picked up the keys to our new Home!!

Barnacle is dropping anchor at The School For The Blind on Hardman Street. 🐚⚓
Be in the know about our new opening. Sign up to our mailing list here: https://t.co/11jxRlB1kB

#liverpoolrestaurants #newopening #liverpoolfood

[Jonathan Harvey @JOJEHARVEY]

My play Canal Street Lonely Hearts Club opens on Wednesday at @hopemilltheatre
30 years after winning Best New Play at the Manchester Evening News Awards!

[Mark Crompton @MarkCrompton]

This weather has been marked NSFW! 👀 🥵

[James Martin, SJ @JamesMartinSJ]

Rest in peace, Pope Francis.
Thank you for everything.

[Mark Crompton @MarkCrompton]

@PeteCityPrice I hope it brings you some peace. 🥰