Outreach, the apostolate aimed at LGBT Catholics promoted by Jesuit James Martin, has published an adaptation of the Confiteor, the penitential prayer that the faithful recite at the beginning of Mass, in which the invocation of the Virgin Mary, the angels, and the saints is replaced by a reference to “spiritual ancestors” and “queer saints.”
The proposal appears at the end of an article published on October 25, titled “An LGBTQ Catholic Guide to the Mass: Praying the Confiteor,” written by Ariell Watson Simon, a graduate in Theology from Boston College. The text is part of a series by Outreach dedicated to interpreting different elements of the Catholic liturgy from an LGBT perspective.
The publication has drawn criticism for modifying one of the best-known prayers of the Mass. LifeSiteNews described the adaptation as “blasphemous” and specifically questioned the invocation of the so-called “queer saints.”
A new version of the Confiteor that removes the reference to the Virgin Mary
In her article, Watson Simon reflects on the experience of praying the Confiteor as an LGBT Catholic and argues that sexual identity should not in itself be considered a sin.
“LGBTQ people are no more sinful than our heterosexual and cisgender counterparts,” the author states, adding: “My queer condition does not make me a sinner, but my humanity does.”
Based on this interpretation, she proposes examining one’s conscience with special attention to prejudices, social injustices, and relationships with others. According to her, when a person thinks, speaks, or acts unjustly, they participate in “structural sins such as racism, xenophobia, and transphobia.”
The author considers that the Confiteor reminds us that sin also has a social dimension and that conversion requires recognizing individual responsibility in the injustices that affect others.
The article concludes with a personal adaptation of the penitential prayer, presented explicitly as a Confiteor for LGBTQ Catholics.
Instead of the traditional formula, which begins with the confession of sins before God almighty and the brethren, the proposed version addresses “our loving God” and acknowledges faults committed through “prejudiced thoughts,” “partial judgments,” “careless words,” and cooperation with injustice.
The most significant modification appears in the final invocation. While the liturgical text asks for the intercession of the blessed ever-Virgin Mary, the angels, the saints, and the other faithful, Watson Simon writes:
“Therefore, I ask all my spiritual ancestors, queer saints, and you, the human family, to pray with me, so that together we may build a better tomorrow.”
The formula published by Outreach does not belong to the official text of the Roman Missal nor does it constitute an approved liturgical prayer to replace the Confiteor during the celebration of Mass.
A Jesuit championed the “queer saints” during the Outreach congress
The reference to “queer saints” also appeared in a presentation by Jesuit James F. Keenan, Professor of Moral Theology at Boston College, during the Outreach congress held last June at Georgetown University in Washington.
Keenan delivered the keynote address on June 21 in Gaston Hall. His talk, titled “Guidance for the LGBTQ Catholic Conscience,” was fully published by Outreach on June 30.
In it, the priest drew on the essay “What Queer Theory Taught Me About the Saints,” by Flora Tang, published in 2022, to defend the contribution of so-called queer theology to Catholic reflection.
Keenan noted that the saints can be instructive from this perspective and praised theologians who use the term queer to develop new interpretations of identity, morality, and the life of the Church.
The Jesuit also compared the prudence of these theologians to that of civil rights activists. He cited Martin Luther King’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail” and presented both the American pastor and Dorothy Day as examples of prudence aimed at promoting social change.
In his address, Keenan also praised the work of James Martin at the head of Outreach and presented it as an example of prudent action to advance the recognition of LGBT people within the Church.
The references to “queer saints” were criticized in another article published by LifeSiteNews, which questioned interpretations of the sexuality of historical figures venerated by the Church.
Outreach and James Martin’s LGBT apostolate
Outreach is an initiative linked to America Media that began in 2020 under the impetus of Jesuit James Martin, known for his pastoral proposals aimed at LGBT people and for his positions on their integration into ecclesial life.
The project organizes meetings, publishes theological reflections, and promotes activities for Catholics who identify as LGBT.
Its June 2026 congress, held at Georgetown, received messages of support from Cardinals Robert McElroy and Blase Cupich.
Subsequently, Martin announced a new pilgrimage for LGBT Catholics in New York, following the pilgrimage held in Rome during the 2025 Jubilee.