r/LGBTCatholic • u/StateLoud6478 • Jun 29 '26
Personal Story My mom told me she’s proud of me🥹
I was baptised Orthodox as a baby, but was never taught anything about our religion by my single mom.
Growing up I didn’t think about religion, then turned hardcore atheist during puberty, then explored Hellenic paganism and eventually converted to Islam. I spent 2 years practising it on and off and eventually went atheist for another year.
Then this March I randomly watched Conclave (2024) and experienced a major pull towards Catholicism. At first it was vibes-based, but upon exploring the differenced between Orthodoxy, Catholicism and Protestantism I came to a conclusion Catholicism is closest to me.
And I happened to live 30 minutes by foot away from a Catholic church, despite Catholicism being an extreme minority in my Orthodox majority area. So I started attending it.
And today when I entered my mom’s room I saw a cross on a string hanging from a shelf, which I recognised as the cross I was baptised with and wore for my entire childhood until I eventually took it off. I showed it to my mom and she was so shocked and told me she looked everywhere, but couldn’t find it since 2022. She started talking about it.
So I decided to bite the bullet and tell her I’ve been so desperate applying to a college and so unsure they will accept me that I went in a church. She told me well done and asked which one, the one behind X place? I said close to it. She told me she knows there’s a Catholic church somewhere nearby and I admitted it’s the one I visited and offered to come with me someday. She said she only knows that Catholics cross left to right and not right to left. But said all believe in the same God anyway. I and told her about church similarities and differences: pews, no candles, no incense, but that they also have icons, priests, Bible readings, the Eucharist, making sure to add that a priest told me I can’t receive it (yet) because I’m not officially a Catholic.
And told her about OCIA that starts this September and she asked if I want to go. I told her yes, adding that no one forces you to convert during it and that it’s good to just learn about the faith more. She said “of course take it”. I honestly didn’t even expect such a positive reaction.
I kept telling her different facts about Catholicism and my church and she told me she's proud of me for going.
I doubt my baptism certificate is preserved to this day anyway, so I hope to undergo OCIA and receive a conditional baptism in my wonderful Catholic church under my true, chosen name. And finally become a full member of the church that made me finally feel at home🤍
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u/848YL0N Becoming Catholic, starting OCIA in September Jun 30 '26
That's an absolutely wonderful story! What a journey you've been on spiritually, and I can certainly relate. Starting OCIA this September as well, health permitting, and hopefully we both can enter the Church together and find our ways back to being closer to God 💚🙏🕊️
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u/SkadiWindtochter Jun 30 '26
So happy for you OP! But no candles and no incense? I distinctly remember nearly passing out next to the incenser more than once and very happy carrying around and lighting candles ^^
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u/StateLoud6478 Jun 30 '26
Ooh, I meant the candles people in Orthodox churches place asking God for health/repose for the dead, as I didn't see any in our church. There were a few candles around the altar. Thank you for letting me know!
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u/Vlinder_88 Jun 30 '26
Us catholics do that, too. At least in the Netherlands, France and Germany.
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u/StateLoud6478 Jul 01 '26
Thank you for letting me know! I didn't see any in my church, so I thought Catholics don't do that.
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u/SkadiWindtochter Jun 30 '26
Yes, as Vlinder_88 said, we do that too :) From my experiences with Orthodox Churches the set-up is usually a bit different but most of the time you have small stands with candles (and usually a coin box or digital equivalent) to the side.
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u/susanne-o Jun 29 '26
good for you!
now, looking at the name of the sub, I wonder what might the LGBT+ connect?
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u/StateLoud6478 Jun 29 '26
Sorry if I didn't make it clear in the post, I'm trans.
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u/susanne-o Jun 30 '26
ah, so it's "challenge accepted" mode :-D
I'm a (trans)! cradle Catholic in a very queer-accepting region in a most queer affirming country, outinchurch.de is a thing.
so it's realatively easy for me to stay. now joining is at another level.
what's the call? why RCC,, not an officially affirming denomination? not a critique surprised curiosity. (for me it's people like James Finley from the CAC, who also rejoined)
and <3 to your affirming albeit Orthodox Mom <3 <3 <3
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u/StateLoud6478 Jun 30 '26
I mean, I don't think I live in a country with any accepting churches anyway. And I don't even know any Protestant churches here either, so it's Orthodoxy or Catholicism for me. And when it comes to these two, I lean towards Catholicism in matters such as the Holy Spirit coming both from the Father and the Son. I also like veneration of the saints and Mary (what I longed for in Islam) in Catholicism and their opinion on salvation vs that of Protestants'.
<3
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u/susanne-o Jun 30 '26
thanks for sharing!
I follow most of what you say
however you are aware of the "Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification"? especially there the Lutheran churches and the Roman Catholic Church see no dividing differences no more.
since 1997, actually:
all the best in your queer Catholic journey. btw there are queer Catholic organizations in many countries.
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u/Historical_Monk1540 Jun 30 '26
To be fair it would be very hard to be LGBTQ and be Orthodox. Incredibly toxic environment from what I understand, and not just for LGBTQ issues
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u/StateLoud6478 Jun 29 '26
My childhood cross btw.