Catholic advocacy group New Ways Ministry highlights Italian Diocese of Bolzano's support for LGBT parishioners
On October 19, 2026, the US-based Catholic advocacy group New Ways Ministry, which champions LGBTQ+ inclusion and equality within the Church, published an in-depth analysis spotlighting the pastoral work of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Bolzano-Bressanone in northern Italy for Coming Out Day. The article examines the diocese’s “Faith and Queer” (fede & queer) working group, which is dedicated to helping believers resolve internal conflict, reconcile their faith with their sexual orientation, and uphold the dignity of LGBTQ+ Christians in parish life.
According to New Ways Ministry, citing the Italian Christian platform Progetto Gionata, coming out remains a formidable trial for many Catholics. Associating sexual orientation with notions of guilt and sin often sparks a severe personal crisis, which is particularly acute when the parish community forms the center of an individual’s social or professional life. In such circumstances, fear of rejection risks total isolation, prompting the working group to foster welcoming parish environments where people are embraced alongside their personal history and faith.
The initiative originated in the diocesan synod of 2020, and in 2022 the group launched a multimedia exhibition and a series of awareness videos. Father Paolo Zambaldi, a priest working with the initiative, explained that the pastoral goal is to gradually transform attitudes and integrate discussions of sexual diversity into the fabric of everyday parish life. Yet group members have faced real rejection within institutional structures: parishioner Toni Pramstaller was denied Holy Communion during a Diocesan Pastoral Council meeting in 2023, an ordeal he described as deeply wounding. Group coordinator Renate Rottensteiner stressed that coming out must never become an imposed test of courage, adding that the core question is not simply whether queer believers are ready to be open, but whether Catholic parishes are finally prepared to listen without penalizing them for their honesty.
New Ways Ministry was established in the United States in 1977 by Sister Jeannine Gramick and Father Robert Nugent. Headquartered in Maryland, the organization has spent nearly five decades fostering constructive dialogue between LGBTQ+ Catholics, theologians, and the episcopate while advocating for pastoral care and non-discrimination within church institutions.
Previously, Uránia reported on how the Diocese of Bolzano-Bressanone in South Tyrol launched pastoral support for queer believers and their families around Coming Out Day, covered the historic first national conference in Rome addressed by Italian Bishops’ Conference Vice President Francesco Savino, and analyzed a solemn prayer vigil in the Diocese of Chiavari featuring a formal church apology to LGBTQ+ Christians.
