A Catholic ministry, Eden Invitation, is focusing on providing a supportive space for individuals with LGBTQ+ experiences.
The organization aims to bring people together who are trying to balance their Christian faith with feelings and desires that might conflict with traditional church teachings.
The ministry’s founders, Anna Carter and Shannon Ochoa, saw a need for a community that could support Christians struggling to reconcile their faith with their sexual identity or gender experiences.
Building Community Amidst Discord
Anna Carter, who serves as the ministry’s president, spoke about the heart of Eden Invitation in an interview with EWTN News Nightly on Valentine’s Day.
Carter explained that for many in the LGBTQ+ community, these experiences shouldn’t be a source of shame, but rather an opportunity to grow spiritually.
She shared that her own journey of reconciling her faith with same-sex attraction began in high school.
While she felt drawn to women, she also had a strong connection to her youth group and the sense of community and prayer in the Church.
She described the Church as her home, and despite the challenges, she felt deeply committed to her faith.
Carter realized over time that her attraction to women wasn’t something that would simply go away.
She began to ask herself big questions about what it means to follow Christ, how to navigate friendships, and what a vocation looks like when sexuality is part of the equation.
This personal reflection led to the creation of Eden Invitation— a space designed to help others in the LGBTQ+ community process their faith and identity in a supportive, Christ-centered way.
A National Community for LGBTQ+ Christians
Today, Eden Invitation has grown into a nationwide ministry.
Members of the group describe themselves as “disciples with LGBTQ+ experiences” who want to live in harmony with Christ’s teachings and the Church.
They aim to build a community where individuals can navigate their faith while acknowledging and embracing their unique sexual and gender experiences.
Chastity and Spiritual Unity
A central concept for Eden Invitation is the idea of chastity, as defined by the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
Chastity is described as “the successful integration of sexuality within the person” which creates unity between the body and soul.
Carter elaborated on this idea, saying that chastity involves understanding the connection between one’s physical body and spiritual life.
It is about being aware of the impact that sexuality has on one’s relationships and seeking to live those relationships in a way that aligns with Christ’s teachings.
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