Mumbai, Nov. 2, 2018: Wendell Rodricks had an unusual request when he approached the Archdiocese of Bombay on October 31 for an audience with Cardinal Oswald Gracias.

The Mumbai-born fashion designer wanted the cardinal, the archbishop of Bombay, to bless his plan to start a hotline to help the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ) community, their families and friends and bring them closer to the Church.

“I was moved to tears when Cardinal Gracias not only gave his total approval and support but also agreed to advise his clergy to be more compassionate and less condemning of the LGBTQ community,” Rodricks said in a social media post after the meeting.

Cardinal Gracias is known as a progressive figure in the Indian Catholic Church.

“At the end of our meeting, His Eminence placed his hand on my head and blessed me in a special way: ‘Christ bless us for the work we are doing for society’. Suffice to say I felt blessed, grateful and immensely joyful. In smog-filled Bombay, my heart felt a rainbow in the sky.”

Rodricks’ initiative, which may take off later in November, is a result of feeling condemned by the Church while growing up. “I have personally suffered,” he said on the phone from Goa. “If [a queer person’s] faith goes against them, it leads to psychological damage because they can’t get the acceptance.”

The as-of-now untitled social media endeavor aims to create a community not just of queer people but also allies and to prevent isolation and despair. “I will be the public face of this endeavor to establish a hotline to assist LGBTQ and family/friends who need guidance and support to keep the faith,” he said.

Two months ago, a five-judge panel led by Chief Justice of India, Dipak Misra, partially dissolved Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, decriminalizing sex by consenting homosexual adults. The Catholic Church, however, does not accept intercourse between members of the same sex.

In this context, Cardinal Gracias’ support for the initiative is being seen as a step forward. In the past, he has expressed the need for women’s inclusion in Catholic leadership, encouraged dialogue on sensitive matters such as same-sex relations.

Bombay archdiocesan spokesperson Father Nigel Barett says the Church has been always welcoming and respectful of all people. “The Cardinal has said that we have to be people who are supportive and the church has to be supportive of them,” he told The Hindu.

The priest, however, reiterated that the Church’s stance on homosexual relations remains unwavering. “The moral position has been one that the sexual act between members of the same sex is not endorsed or accepted.”

A sliver of hope

Rodricks was encouraged to approach the Archdiocese by Ruby Almeida, London-based chairperson of Quest, an endeavor that offers pastoral support to queer Catholics. Almeida has been working in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer (LGBTIQ) faith sector for over 15 years.

“The local group set up in Mumbai will be working closely with Wendell Rodricks to address the needs of LGBTIQ Catholics initially in Mumbai and Goa,” she said. “We very much hope other [religious] groups can look to us for support to [address] faith amongst the LGBTI community which had been overlooked till now.”

The response to Rodricks’ initiative among the LGBTQ community has been mixed. Andrew, a 33-year-old communications trainer, finds Rodricks’ exercise futile. A keen participant in Church activities like the choir and lector’s group, he was unaffected by the Church’s stance on his sexual orientation.

“I continued practicing my faith and living my life,” he says. “I don’t see the sense of having [an online presence]. The moment you have an online portal, there will be conflicting opinions and people posting nonsense. If the Church feels we are accepted, they should just say it and that should be more than sufficient.”

But 29-year-old Mark, a design professional, is hopeful that Rodricks’ plans will help young queer Catholics like him. “I felt like I was sinning,” he says, reminiscing his childhood. “I remember confessing having feelings for another man to a priest and he told me it’s okay to feel the attraction but acting on it is a sin.”

Mark doesn’t go to church any more. “I still have a relationship with God and Jesus but I don’t think [being gay] is a sin. I’m not a freak of nature but even freaks of nature were created by God. He’s created everything.”