Building a Bridge: How the Catholic Church and the LGBT Community Can Enter into a Relationship of Respect, Compassion, and Sensitivity

A landmark, Church-endorsed call for Catholics and the LGBTQIA+ community to build a relationship rooted in respect, compassion, and sensitivity—from renowned Jesuit priest and New York Times bestselling author James Martin, SJ.

Written in the wake of the 2016 Orlando nightclub shooting, Building a Bridge is essential reading for LGBTQIA+ Catholics and their families, friends, and allies, as well as for priests, bishops, and pastoral ministers seeking to welcome LGBTQIA+ people more fully into the life of the Church. Father Martin draws directly on the Catechism's mandate that LGBTQIA+ people be treated with "respect, compassion, and sensitivity," offering a two-way path toward genuine dialogue. This revised and expanded edition carries the official Imprimi Potest and has been praised by cardinals and bishops across the Church.

Topics covered include:

• What respect, compassion, and sensitivity look like in practice—for both Church leaders and LGBTQIA+ Catholics
• Concrete steps parishes and dioceses can take toward LGBTQIA+ outreach and ministry
• How language, naming, and pastoral care shape belonging in the Catholic Church
• Biblical passages for reflection and meditation on identity, dignity, and faith
• A prayer for LGBTQIA+ people who feel rejected by their church
• Discussion questions ideal for book groups, parish ministries, and personal reflection

Compassionate, courageous, and grounded firmly in Scripture and Catholic teaching, this book speaks to anyone navigating the intersection of Catholic faith and LGBTQIA+ identity—whether you're a gay or lesbian Catholic, a parent of an LGBTQIA+ child, or a church leader looking for guidance. Readers who found hope and clarity in Andrew Marin's Love Is an Orientation or Justin Lee's Torn will find in Building a Bridge a distinctly Catholic, pastorally minded companion—one written from inside the institution it asks to change.

Building a Bridge isn't a debate about doctrine; it's an invitation to conversation, prayer, and ministry rooted in the Gospel call to welcome those on the margins.

Rev. James Martin, SJ, is a Jesuit priest, editor at large of America magazine, consultor to the Vatican’s Dicastery for Communication, and author of the New York Times bestsellers Learning to Pray, Jesus: A Pilgrimage, and The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything. Father Martin is a frequent commentator in the national and international media, having appeared on all the major networks and outlets, like The Colbert Report, NPR’s Fresh Air, The New York Times, and the Wall Street Journal.