The Online Book Club: Building a Bridge

Fee: $25
Five Weeks

Check the course schedule for future offerings of this course.

The “Signs of the Times” series includes courses that address difficult social, political and cultural themes in order to provide steps to bridge the deep divisions in the U.S. today.

As the subtitle in Building a Bridge explains, James Martin discusses how the Catholic Church and the LGBTQ+ community can enter into a relationship of respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Originally, the book was based on a presentation Martin made when accepting an award from New Ways Ministry. The expanded version provides resources for prayer and reflection. Join us in discussing the expanded paperback version.

James Martin, S.J. Building a Bridge: How the Catholic Church and the LGBT Community Can Enter into a Relationship of Respect, Compassion, and Sensitivity. Revised and Expanded Edition. HarperCollins, 2018. ISBN 978-0-06-283753-0

Topics

Getting Started Week: Introduction to the course

Week 1: Respect

Week 2: Compassion

Week 3: Sensitivity

Week 4: Building a Bridge

Special Features

This course includes:

• Initial comments to introduce the book;
• Weekly questions to begin the discussion;
• A regularly updated Resources page for further study on the topics discussed in this course; and
• A special forum to share reflections and meditations on the Scripture selections.

All Crossroads courses include these features:

• Participants have access 24 hours/ 7 days a week to the course's password-protected web site. 
  
• Each participant belongs to a small Community for Conversation and faith sharing guided by a facilitator.
  
• Site is usually available to participants at least three months after the course.
  
• An orientation in how to navigate the web site is always available.
  
• Technical assistance is easy to contact and prompt in returning a message.
  
• A Certificate of Active Participation is awarded to those who post at least three messages of substance for each week of content.

Additional Materials:

James Martin, S.J. Building a Bridge: How the Catholic Church and the LGBT Community Can Enter into a Relationship of Respect, Compassion, and Sensitivity. Revised and Expanded Edition. HarperCollins, 2018. ISBN 978-0-06-283753-0

Time Commitment

A participant can expect to spend an average of 3-4 hours each week. This commitment includes both preparation and interaction online.

Content Scholar: James Martin, S.J., is a well-known author and an editor-at-large of America magazine.