During this past Christmas season, I’d reflected on those people who have been rejected or harmed by religion. I know because it happened to me. I heard the typical saying “hate the sin but love the sinner.” Most people leave the church and never look back. Often, never finding another spiritual home and wandering around looking for something to fill that spiritual void. I grew up in Wilton Manors and never expected this would also be the place that I would learn that I am loved and welcomed just the way I was created.

Hey, “Mary,” did you know that there was such a thing as the Independent Catholic Church? Did you know that there is one right here in Wilton Manors called Holy Angels Catholic Community?

Independent in this case meaning – not under the authority of the Roman Catholic Pope. I love that as “independent” Catholics we are free to reinvent ourselves, be more spiritual and less indoctrinated, and free to love the way Jesus originally intended. Our motto is Love Without Judgment. We actually do welcome everyone. When you walk in our front door, we have our beliefs posted right up front: We believe that everyone should receive Holy communion as it is our food for the journey, everyone can marry and or re-marry whomever they want, ordained ministry is open to everyone regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, and everyone should be sexually responsible including contraception.

The reason I go to church is not because my mother made me or because I am going to go to hell, it’s because I now have a like-minded spiritual community of people who love and support me. Isn’t that what the LGBT community is all about?

“Mary,” remember that outfit you love that went out of style or it just doesn’t quite fit anymore? The one we all put in the back and don’t want to give away in case someday we go back to it. That was my spirituality, in the back of the closet. I found my way back to my spirituality through Holy Angels. I invite you to dig into the back of your closet and seek until you find and maybe even show up with that outfit on. Find that place where you can come as you are.