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this is a special episode of the excerpt.

And this is a special episode of the excerpt.

The Catholic Church hasn't been known for its inclusive stands with the LGBT-plus community historically, but over the past decade Pope Francis steered a course that is decidedly liberal and accepting

in contrast to traditional church doctrine.

He's welcomed trans sex workers at the Vatican, for instance.

Is this progressive repositioning a signal of a broader

policy shift for the Roman Catholic Church? Our guest on the excerpt today is

Sister Janine Grahamek, co-founder of New Ways Ministry, a Catholic outreach group focused on education and

advocacy for LGBT-plus people in the church. Thanks for joining us sister

Janine. Oh my pleasure. Thank you. I want to start with a little bit about you.

You started this ministry over 50 years ago which was quite controversial at the time.

Tell us about how your advocacy work for the LGBT-plus community started.

Well it began because I met some gay people at the uniform and we only call them gay people in the early 70s in

1971 when I was at the University of Pennsylvania I became involved in meeting members of the gay and lesbian community and many not all

but of course but many many were Catholic and felt that the church rejected them because they were

getting hostile messages so I told them, though, you are part of the church, you are welcome.

And so we began having liturgies at, which is a Catholic prayer service, Catholic Eucharist, in people's homes.

And from that one of the leaders of the group asked me what further can the church do for his gay brothers and

sisters and at my experience in that year or two at the university in meeting the members of the gay and

...