Without Exception Newsletter

Do not be afraid;

for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy

that will be for all the people.

For today in the city of David

a savior has been born for you

who is Messiah and Lord.

Luke 2:10-11

On Tuesday, December 9 from 8:00 - 9:30 PM Eastern Time we will host JR Zerkowski, Executive Director of Fortunate Families, for an exclusive interview and conversation on Catholic ministry to support LGBTQ+ persons and their families. As a pastoral associate, Chair of the Diocese of Lexington LGBTQ Commission, and author of Coming Out and Coming Home, JR will share insights from his own faith journey and years of pastoral leadership.

Please reply to David to reserve a spot. The Zoom link will be released to participants 30 minutes before the event. This event will not be recorded.

This section is an open forum for members to share reflections or responses connected to our mission.

🚩Please respect the privacy of the authors. These reflections are intended only for the private forum of our network. Public sharing or reprinting is not permitted without permission.

I had a conversation recently with someone who described Truth as a compass. There are 360 degrees on a compass, and Truth is at zero degrees. When we "teach Truth," this person said, we need to be precise, like we are journeying to the North Star. If we are off by even one degree, then our miscalculation will lead us very far away from the Truth. We will miss the mark.

I hadn't heard this explanation before and I liked it. It was a creative way to describe an abstract idea.

But later that night I changed my mind.

That way of thinking leaves no margin for error. If Truth is a distant point, then we have to walk a razor's edge or miss the destination. That's a lot of pressure, and probably an exercise in failure given our human nature to "miss the mark." Yes, every Mass begins with the Penitential Rite and the Sacrament of Penance is a course correction, but if Truth is a point then there is only one path to follow. Zero degrees or bust.

I'm still working this out, but I think a baseball field is a better analogy for Truth. If we're standing at home plate, then we're looking out at a 90-degree sector. Between the first base line and the third base line, we can put the ball in play and score runs in a variety of ways. Moreover, a home run down the first base line and a home run down the third base line—which are very different degrees of angle—count the same. Of course, there are still outs and foul balls, but this model is more forgiving and more aligned with our vocation to be holy persons who are "unique and unrepeatable."

The following note is an affirmation of the work we are doing to promote support for Catholic families with LGBTQ+ children.

Please continue to pray for me and my brother bishops. Pray that we will faithfully promote the Apostolic faith while we faithfully and compassionately serve God’s people, that we will find the Spirit-filled path that encourages real commitment to the truth of the Gospel and legitimate diversity in the Body of Christ.

• Bryan Herpfer and Dr. Anna Holleman in the Department of Sociology at Appalachian State University are conducting a sociological study on "Belonging and Rejection Among Transgender Catholic Congregants.” This study seeks to understand how transgender and gender non-conforming Catholics experience belonging and rejection in Catholic parishes. Participation in a private 60 minute interview is completely voluntary. These interviews will be audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Participants will receive a $20 Amazon gift card. Please contact Bryan Herpfer or Anna Holleman if interested.

• A Virtual Interfaith Morning of Reflection for LGBTQ+ Persons, Their Families, and Allies will be held on Zoom on Saturday, February 28, 2026 from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM Central Time. More details and registration is coming soon. For more information, please contact Brad Leger.

• New Ways Ministry will host a retreat for LGBTQ+ people and friends from Friday, March 6 to Sunday, March 8, 2026. Titled "Walking Together, Walking with Christ," this retreat will be hosted by the Siena Retreat Center near Milwaukee International Airport in Wisconsin. Led by Brian Flanagan, the time together will combine talks, synodal conversation, silent meditation, communal prayer, and time for socializing. More complete information is available here.

"I have a high school senior who is struggling to accept himself in light of his sexuality, and he is just starting to confide in a few peers and adults on campus. Last week he stayed after class to tell me he'd spotted a Without Exception sticker in his English teacher's classroom. That silent but clear affirmation made his day."

For LGBTQ+ young persons an affirming symbol can be a lifeline. It communicates "you are precious in my eyes and honored, and I love you" (Isaiah 43:4). The gesture is small, but it increases a young person's sense of value and supports their physical, mental, and spiritual health.

In many places rainbow colors are controversial and beyond the threshold for community leaders. That is why the Without Exception logo is designed to be an integrated Catholic symbol. The circle represents the universal (catholic) call to be witnesses of the gospel in all places, “to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8); in all times, as symbolized by the colors of the liturgical year; and to all people, as we “look upon our neighbor (without any exception) as another self” (CCC 1931). The heart at the center of the logo is an interpretation of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and the colors of the liturgical year symbolize glory and celebration (gold); Mary and water (blue); blood and fire (red); penance and preparation (purple); life and growth (green); and joy and hope (rose).

These items are available at cost plus $6.00 for shipping. Payment can be made by Venmo.

Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate. In Search of Best Practices in Ministry with Gay and Lesbian Catholics. Special Report prepared for the National Association of Catholic Diocesan Lesbian and Gay Ministries. Georgetown University, 2004.

Cesana, Alessia. Q&A with Fr. Andrea Conocchia, Priest for Rome's Transgender Community. National Catholic Reporter, October 29, 2025.

Kuzma, Maxwell. A Transgender Catholic on What it Means for the Church to Walk with LGBTQ People. Outreach, November 19, 2025.

O'Leary, David. Twelve Tough Questions and a Pastor's Response. Self-published, 2025.

O'Loughlin, Michael, ed. The Bible and Homosexuality: Expanding Our Image of God. The Outreach Guide. Paulist Press, 2025.

Trail, Michael. A priest’s reflection on confession and LGBTQ Catholics. Outreach, November 14, 2025.

Trans Journalists Association. Stylebook and Coverage Guide.

Winfield, Nicole. Pope Urges Catholic Teachers to Focus Less on Professional Outcomes, More on Spiritual Lives. National Catholic Reporter, October 24, 2025.

Winters, Sean Michael. What a new survey of US Catholic priests does, and does not, tell us. National Catholic Reporter, October 28, 2025.

Wooden, Cindy. Synod Study Groups on "Controversial" Issues Release Interim Reports. America, November 17, 2025.

• Outreach will host a regional gathering at St. Monica Catholic Community, in Santa Monica, California, on Thurs., Dec. 11, 2025, celebrating Advent with a Lessons and Carols prayer service and social gathering. The event will be co-hosted with the Catholic Ministry with Lesbian and Gay Persons (CMLGP) of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, and St. Monica’s Parish. To register for the Los Angeles event, complete the the registration form. For more information, email John Consolie, Outreach’s communications and advancement associate, at jconsolie@americamedia.org.

• Outreach 2026 will gather LGBTQ lay people, clergy, scholars, artists, educators, students and family members to celebrate five years of Outreach ministry. The three-day conference, which will be held at Georgetown University from June 19 to 21, 2026, will feature keynote presentations, panels, liturgies and opportunities for networking and friendship. More information is available here.

November 2025

October 2025

September 2025

August 2025

July 2025

June 2025

Without Exception is a no-cost ministry network for Catholic secondary educators and those in related fields of ministry. Our mission is to provide networking and resources to accompany LGBTQ+ students and colleagues with the love of Jesus Christ and his church. The strength of this work rests on trust—please respect the privacy and confidentiality of all persons and schools connected to our network. In accordance with Catholic safe environment standards, Without Exception membership and mailing list participation are reserved for adults.

Without Exception is a global network of Catholic secondary educators dedicated to discerning the art of accompaniment for LGBTQ+ students in Catholic schools. Through a commitment to faithful dialogue and peer collaboration, we seek to understand what it means to share the love of Jesus Christ with every person, without exception.

Email: info@withoutexception.net

Website: www.withoutexception.net