Honoring the Journey Empty Chairs Community: Honoring the Journey of Justin Telthorst
This episode of Honoring the Journey is a deeply personal conversation with Justin Telthorst, who shares his journey of coming out as gay at age 25 while remaining within the Catholic Church—a path that defied the common narrative of leaving religion behind. Growing up in a conservative Catholic environment in the Midwest, Justin initially viewed his sexuality as a "cross to bear" and his secret testimony to overcome. After years of internal struggle, falling in love with a man, and experiencing profound peace in that relationship, he faced a pivotal moment: conversations with unsupportive priests led him to leave his dream job at a Catholic nonprofit and begin the painful process of coming out. Rather than abandoning his faith entirely, Justin found his way back to Catholicism after several years, choosing to stay and create welcoming spaces within the church. He now runs a Discord community for LGBTQ+ Catholics, offers one-on-one spiritual direction, and advocates for a theology centered on God's infinite mercy and love rather than rules and condemnation.
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Key Points of Interest:
• Justin's realization that the Catholic Church's teaching on homosexuality was based on outdated 1950s psychology, not serious theological reflection
• The profound moment of peace he felt holding hands with a man while driving through the Colorado mountains—a spiritual experience that contradicted everything he'd been taught
• His decision to return to the Catholic Church after leaving, viewing it as a place where he encounters God while maintaining spiritual autonomy
• The importance of taking deconstruction "one step at a time" rather than trying to figure out the entire future at once
• His discovery that Jesus's only commandment is to love God and neighbor—a realization that transformed his entire theological framework
• The role of online community and welcoming churches in providing support during the coming-out process
• His perspective that God's justice IS mercy, and that divine love is an "unfathomable ocean" we can't fully comprehend
Honoring the Journey is hosted, produced and edited by Leslie Nease and the artwork for the show is also created by Leslie Nease.
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