If just reading my title stirs anger in your heart, then I suggest one of two things.

First, if you are close with me and would not like to hear about my thoughts and opinions regarding not just the Catholic church, but many other Christian denominations, stop right here and move on with your day. I am writing this article to talk about God, and how, if He were here right now, His actions would be different than that of the church.

I am not looking to be lectured about how the Catholic church is the only right church. I am also not looking to be lectured about this article and how I am "wrong." If you read through this article and do not agree with me, that is fine. I do not need people to agree with me, I am simply just sharing what is on my mind and in my heart.

My second suggestion would be to open up your heart and mind and really think about this article and the group of people it affects; because the actions of the church and Christian people have hurt many people in the LGTBQ+ community.

As Christians, we are called to follow Christ. We are called to act just as He would, regardless of the lifestyle others live. We are called to love one another, just as we would love ourselves.

When I look around, I see so many people who have been hurt by the church, especially members of the LGTBQ+ community, and it breaks my heart, honestly. It breaks my heart because, if Jesus were here on this Earth today, He would welcome everyone to His table with open arms.

He would welcome the poor, the rich, prostitutes, businessmen and -women, common people, people who are gay, lesbian, transgender and people of all creeds or colors. He would welcome everyone regardless of their past or their current situations. Jesus hung out with outcasts and "bad people." He turned no one away, so why should Christians do the opposite?

The fact that some churches openly condemn a large group of people makes me more than heart broken; it makes me angry.

Ultimately, no one has the right to judge or condemn anyone except God Himself. Why should the church judge an entire group of people and deny them the receiving of God's love, when I guarantee that at least half of the members who are a part of the church are "sinners," just as gay people supposedly are.

Being gay is supposedly a sin, but so is lying, murder, adultery and having sex before marriage. Viewing pornography is a sin. So is masturbating and being envious of others. For some reason, as Christians, we have targeted the LGTBQ+ and condemned them for being "sinful," but we are not much different. We have decided to tell gay people that God does not love them, and we have continually made them feel as though they are not welcome in God's house. God's love extends to everyone in any situation, not just those the church chooses.

But I'm not so innocent either. I'm guilty of judging others for the lifestyles they chose to live. I'll admit that oftentimes I let my perceptions of the LGTBQ+ community prohibit me from interacting with people who are a part of it. I let my fear of someone else's lifestyle come between a possible friendship. Oftentimes I feel uncomfortable around members of the LGTBQ+ community, because I have been taught to look at them as “gross" and “sinful."

I have continually believed the lies that say that there is something terribly wrong with gay people. I am guilty of sometimes not viewing members of the LGTBQ+ as beautiful and dignified people. And for that, I am sorry to all of you who are apart of this community. I am continuously trying to fight these perceptions in my head, because everyone who is a part of the LGTBQ+ community is human and worthy of love.

So, I am sorry that you consistently battle judgement not only from society, but from the church as well, a place that is supposed to represent God--the one who loves us just as we are.

I hope that you can find it in your hearts to forgive the church, and if you can't, I hope you know that God would never turn you away. You are His beloved child, regardless of who you love. I hope you can one day believe so deeply in your hearts that you are worthy of love, whether it's from God, the church or the people around you. You deserve to be loved and cherished, regardless of what anyone here on this earth says.