Pastoral Care to and Ministry with LGBTQ Youth and Young Adults

“Canales’ work . . . offers a clear but critical review of the Catholic Church’s official teachings on homosexuality, while challenging elements of those teachings as unjust and potentially dangerous. His theological and pastoral responses to LGBTQ youth and young adults are valuable for Catholic congregations, bringing this urgent discussion to ministers in a manner that is both reflective and resourceful.”


—Theresa O’Keefe, School of Theology and Ministry, Boston College





“A must-read. . . . Canales writes in language that we can all understand. A great resource to be referred to over and over again. You cannot read this book without coming away with new knowledge, perspective, insights, and appreciation for LGBTQ youth, and how to better understand and appreciate them, especially those who are Christian/Catholic.”


—Roslyn A. Karaban, St. Bernard’s School of Theology and Ministry, retired





“Grounded in the best of the Christian tradition yet sufficiently comfortable to ask critical and necessary questions, Canales has written a must-read work for anyone engaged in ministry with LGBTQ youth and young adults. If reading this book makes you uncomfortable and calls you to reassess common biases and misunderstandings, then you understood it. Accept the invitation; take a risk, as the author did.”


—Hosffman Ospino, School of Theology and Ministry, Boston College





“The church desperately needs work like this. . . . Canales implores us to follow the example of Jesus’ message and ministry and to embrace our LGBTQ+ brothers and sisters without hesitation and without judgement. He does all of this in an approachable manner, using sound theology, biblical examination, and discussion questions for self-reflection and community dialogue. This is a truly timely and necessary work for our church.”


—Paul Griffith, Jesuit High School





“I welcome this publication by Arthur Canales. This is an extremely important topic . . . . I recommend that all our bishops, priests, and pastoral leaders read and study this book. It is well structured, with some very challenging questions for discussion and refection at the end of each chapter. Don’t just buy the book. Read it!”


—Gerard Gallagher, Pastoral Coordinator, Archdiocese of Dublin





“This is the most exhaustive and practical text I know of on one of our most current and controversial issues for our society and church. I think it should be in the library of every church and Christian organization. . . . Whatever your and your church’s perspective, I urge you to consider this challenging text.”


—Dean Borgman, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, emeritus





“Canales provides powerful support to youth ministers, seminary professors, and faithful allies to the sexually marginalized in families, communities and congregations. Grounded in liberation theology, including a careful exegesis of frequently cited antigay biblical ‘texts of terror,’ as well as practical suggestions for youth leaders, Canales ends each chapter with questions for discussion, making this an effective teaching resource fully in accord with Christian principles of imago Dei—that of God in everyone.”


—Felicity Kelcourse, Christian Theological Seminary