Representatives of Crismhom, an association linked to LGTBI activism within the Church, will take part in one of the meetings that Pope Leo XIV will hold during his upcoming visit to Spain. The invitation was issued by the Archdiocese of Madrid, led by Cardinal José Cobo, and will allow members of this group to attend the Pontiff’s event with culture and civil society scheduled for June 7 at the Madrid Arena.
According to the magazine Vida Nueva, between ten and fifteen members of this organization will be present at the meeting. The presence of Crismhom does not go unnoticed, as it is one of the most active groups in Spain in promoting positions that many faithful consider incompatible with Catholic teaching on sexuality, marriage, and Christian anthropology.
From Chueca to the Archdiocese of Madrid
Crismhom was founded in Madrid in 2006 and defines itself as a community of homosexual Christians. However, its activity is not limited to the spiritual accompaniment of people with same-sex attraction who wish to live in accordance with Catholic doctrine. For years it has promoted a vision of homosexual pastoral care aligned with the demands of the LGTBI movement and with calls for doctrinal reform driven by various international organizations.
The group maintains close ties with the Global Network of Rainbow Catholics (GNRC), an international platform that brings together associations calling for changes in the Church’s understanding of homosexuality, gender identity, and other issues related to sexual morality.
José Cobo’s support
Crismhom’s presence at an event with Leo XIV comes after several gestures of rapprochement by Cardinal José Cobo. Last year, representatives of the group were received by the Archbishop of Madrid to discuss the organization of the GNRC world assembly.
After the meeting, the organizers themselves publicly celebrated the encounter and expressed gratitude for the welcome they received. According to their statements, they shared with the cardinal the preparation of the international event and their goal of continuing to build a “more inclusive” Church, an expression frequently used by these groups to promote pastoral and doctrinal changes on issues related to sexual morality.
The GNRC and its agenda within the Church
Founded in Rome in 2015, the Global Network of Rainbow Catholics has become one of the main international platforms for LGTBI activism in the ecclesial sphere. Among its objectives is the promotion of changes in the way the Church addresses homosexual relationships, gender identity, and the role of women in ecclesial life.
Among the organizations linked to the network are groups such as New Ways Ministry and DignityUSA, known for their campaigns in favor of ecclesial recognition of homosexual relationships, the priestly ordination of women, and other proposals incompatible with Catholic doctrine. Far from promoting the practice of chastity in accordance with the Catechism of the Catholic Church, these groups maintain that the Church must revise its moral teaching to adapt it to new social and cultural realities.