"Act of Reparation" by Bishop Schneider - Prayer, Protest and Political Sacralisation
Prologue: The Controversy in Rome In early September 2025, an event in Rome sparked significant controversy among Catholics worldwide. The incident occurred during the Jubilee Year, a time traditionally marked by pilgrimage, penitence, and spiritual renewal. A group of activist Catholic LGBTQ+ organisations participated in a public demonstration calling for greater inclusion within the Church. The group entered several significant religious sites, including the Church of the Gesù and St. Peter's Basilica, carrying rainbow-coloured crosses. some were wearing T-shirts that bore slogans considered profane and irreverent. According to reports and photographs circulated online, one shirt read "F*uk the Rules." Participants described their action as a "pilgrimage of inclusion," passing through the Holy Door to affirm that LGBTQ+ Catholics, too, sought mercy during the Jubilee. Organisers of the groups insisted their act was devotional, not defiant, a public ...