In an opinion piece for the National Catholic Reporter, Maxwell Kuzma argues that the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ recent initiative to consecrate the nation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus must be rooted in true solidarity with marginalized groups, specifically the LGBTQ community.
Kuzma observes that while some Catholics use devotion to the Sacred Heart as a counterpoint to LGBTQ Pride Month, the bishops’ formal statement on the consecration avoids explicit mention of LGBTQ people. Instead, the bishops link the devotion to national identity—a framing Kuzma finds troubling given the current political climate and the rise of religiously supported nationalism.
The author contends that true devotion to the Sacred Heart requires engaging with the reality of human suffering rather than using religious concepts to “spiritually bypass” it. Citing Pope Francis and the teachings of the Church, Kuzma emphasizes that the Heart of Christ is revealed through attention to the oppressed, the poor, and the excluded. Because a significant number of LGBTQ Americans face discrimination, homelessness, and stigmatization, Kuzma argues that they must be recognized as integral parts of the “body of Christ.”
Drawing on the work of transgender theologian Dr. Nicolete Burbach, the article posits that queer and trans existence is not alien to Catholic life but is already participating in the sacred communion of the Church. Ultimately, Kuzma asserts that the bishops’ call to “see the face of Christ reflected in each sister and brother” is incompatible with the exclusion of LGBTQ individuals. For the devotion to the Sacred Heart to remain faithful to its core Gospel meaning, it must be inseparable from a commitment to solidarity with, and advocacy for, the LGBTQ community.
