Building a Bridge

Fr. James Martin's book, Building a Bridge, presents a powerful and deeply spiritual message to all in our Catholic Church to live out Jesus' call to love and respect all persons as beloved children of God, including our beloved LGBTQ children, family members, and friends. The documentary, Building a Bridge, is a personal and vulnerable look at the work that Fr. Martin has so tirelessly engaged in to bring about greater understanding, sensitivity, and personal interaction between our Catholic communities and those in the LGBTQ community. The video would be a wonderful discussion tool in parishes!

This documentary describes the important work of Father James Martin, who has, for years, tirelessly advocated for LGBTQ Catholics.

Based on his book, Building a Bridge, we're introduced to Fr. Martin's ministry to encourage respect, compassion, and sensitivity to a community long-marginalized by many conservative Catholics.

Through the filmmakers' fine work, we're made aware of Fr. Martin's commitment to this important work to warmly welcome our often cruelly-estranged LGBTQ siblings back to the faith into which they were baptized.

We meet Sister Jeannine Gramick who has also been willing to stand up to some of the decidedly un-Christ-like behavior of the purportedly pious.

May this important film help strengthen the Catholic Church starting with the reminder that Jesus' message was unconditional love for all, especially those marginalized in his day!

Fr. Martin is perennially on the side of family, friends, and civility, with more than a touch of humor. He reminds us that patience is valuable. The fact that change is coming far too slowly for some and far too quickly for others shouldn't surprise anyone. God is never on the side of cruelty, however. The value of "Building a Bridge," beyond being a snapshot of our times, is that it reminds us to resist the very human temptation to lash out at others we disagree with, or retaliate when we feel attacked personally or in our spiritual views. I would very much like to see this film updated in ten or fifteen years. I have a feeling the snapshot will look different then.

The haters and indifferent should watch this movie.

Firstly, Fr Martin is the best example out there today of a person spreading the Gospel. He is finding people who are hurt but want the joy of the Gospel, and no offense but when Catholicism is done right, there is nothing better.

So Fr Martin is doing it right, and the joy to our brothers and sisters in Christ is amazing.

Then there are the haters. A word on people who flip out on the topic of gays: every one of them is so clearly a gay person who is repressing his feelings... thus the anger. The flamboyance is also laughably clear. It was downright funny seeing these people... male protesters on the street wearing sashes, the Militant Catholic guy... you have to see his haircut. And he shows off his sword... not at all phallic./s

So this is a great, feel-good documentary. Fr Martin is highly intelligent, a true example of the kind of person Jesus told us to be, and he forgives people who should have their computer blow up in their face (but only for comedy, not to injure them). There are many emotional feel-good moments in the film.

My joke: the pic of Pope F & Fr Jim, I said "hey, there's a pic of Pope Francis with a cardboard Fr Jim!" everyone laughed.

"Building a Bridge" eloquently shares Fr. Martin's ministry of promoting a culture of belonging for each and every individual in our Church. "I always want to be close to Jesus, that is why I am doing this," is a tremendous reminder of what the Gospel calls us to-being a witness of God's love. I hope that Catholics across our country and beyond will watch with an open mind and spirit and come to better understand the experiences of LGBTQ Catholics. The stories that are shared by LGBTQ individuals and family members are a reminder that our Church has tremendous work to do to be a space of belonging for all. "Building a Bridge" is worth the watch and can be an important (but not the only) step in leading our Church in this direction.