A Catechism of the Heart: A Jesuit Missioned to the Laity

At the age of twenty-five Benjamin James Brenkert--a young man from Long Island a social work student and an internet vocation to the priesthood--entered one of the historically boldest influential apostolic religious orders of the Roman Catholic Church. Aged thirty-four and a member of the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits) in good standing Brenkert was missioned to the laity by his last religious superior. Brenkert could not come out publicly as a gay Jesuit and support his LGBTQ peers who were being fired from various church employment and volunteer activities because of whom they loved. Brenkert had never concealed his sexuality from his religious superiors he knew all too well what was written in the Churchs Catechism about homosexuals. Still he felt uniquely called to respond to Gods invitation to serve him in total love as a priest something confirmed in him in prayer during his thirty-day silent retreat and affirmed to him by his religious superiors and peers throughout his life in the Jesuits. In his Open Letter to Pope Francis in 2014 Brenkert wrote Pope Francis . . . I ask you to instruct the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops to tell Catholic institutions not to fire any more LGBTQ Catholics. I ask you to speak out against laws that criminalize and oppress LGBTQ people around the globe. These actions would bring true life to your statement Who am I to judge? In 2015 the United States Supreme Court struck down bans on same-sex marriage in Obergell v. Hodges and in 2020 the United States Supreme Court expanded the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to include discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Despite these landmark achievements in the public sector LGBTQ Catholics still cannot receive communion and must always seek reconciliation. Their flourishing as part of their religious community is always frustrated. Brenkerts account of his life before in and after the Jesuits is interwoven with trials and tribulations but remains always full of hope written candidly and with bracing honesty. Brenkert offers readers the opportunity to join him on a theological and spiritual pilgrimage one that ends with readers making a discernment. The world today is full of distraction misinformation and timidity Brenkerts pilgrimage is full of conviction heartful written with an eagerness to help people of faith and no faith at all find their true selves all for the greater glory of God.