"I can say that some delegates made contributions last year that went beyond the opposition I had previously heard from church leaders," Martin wrote in an article in the American Jesuit magazine"America" on Thursday.
He was surprised by the intensity of the opposition to queer people among the synod members: "The words 'disgusting', 'repulsive', 'unnatural' and 'sick' were regularly used in conversations with me."
As a result of these experiences, Martin sought dialogue with members of the synod last year. According to Martin, he spoke primarily with representatives from Eastern Europe and Africa.
In his contribution, the Jesuit lists various prejudices of these conversations: "1) LGBTQ issues are an ideology; 2) It is a form of neo-colonialism; 3) It is a Western concern; 4) To support LGBTQ people is to oppose the teachings of the Church and 5) LGBTQ people hate the Church."
Talk of LGBTQ ideology is a strong prejudice from churchmen and synod members, Martin said. "Some delegates said that LGBTQ people either don't exist or merely subscribe to an ideology (that makes them gay). One African archbishop said to me, 'The reason people are gay in my country is because Americans are paying them to become gay.'"
Conversations with bishops
He had also been told several times that homosexuality was a form of neo-colonialism. "'It has never existed in our country,' one bishop told me. It was 'an import', said another. 'An unwelcome visitor', said another," said Martin.
In a conversation with a Latin American bishop, Martin told him about a same-sex couple. The bishop honoured the couple's love and added that sexual intercourse between the two was against church doctrine and also "disgusting".
After a number of conversations, Martin recommends getting to know LGBTQ people - as people and not as stereotypes. James Martin has become known in recent years primarily for his LGBTQ pastoral care.
Among other things, the Jesuit has written books that have all become bestsellers in the USA.
He also writes for the Jesuit magazine "America" and the online portal for LGBTQ Catholics "Outreach".
Among other things, Martin is taking part in the Synod on Synodality, the second session of which will take place in the Vatican in October.