Since I became a LBGTQIA+ affirming Catholic practitioner, many people of faith question and even reject me for it.  I can understand the questions. But what I cannot understand is the rejection and callous dismissal of LBGTQIA+ lives, especially LBGTQIA+ children. My journey of becoming an affirming LBGTQIA+ Catholic practioner was a very difficult yet liberating journey.  Many events and experiences painfully opened my eyes to a reality that I didn’t comprehend previously due to my ultra-conservative religious background.  In short,... Read more

I have now been called a Cafeteria Catholic at least a dozen times which I don’t care at this point. I will become a certified clinical affirming LBGTQIA+ Catholic practitioner in one month.  I became a fully-affirming individual over the last 1.5 years because I place the Sanctity of Life, the Dignity of the Human Person, and Jesus’ 2nd Greatest Commandment to love our neighbor as ourselves first. Pope Francis and the Catechism of the Catholic Church say to provide... Read more

In my previous professional experience prior to becoming a pediatric specialty therapist, I served as a disability coordinator for a primary school campus. From the most severe and profoundly handicapped students to the mildest of learning disabled students, the least reactive environment was/is the law. Meaning, Federal law does require the most amount of inclusion in the regular education classroom for students with disabilities without compromising specialized instruction. Federal Law also requires students with disabilities to be educated with non-disabled... Read more

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Yesterday a traditionalist (trad) called me a Cafeteria Catholic due to my support for full Catholic Church inclusion of Neurodiverse and LBGTQIA+ individuals.   As I said in my previous post, I never dreamed that I would advocate for LBGTQIA+ inclusion due to my ultra-conservative religious background, not until I learned that Catholic parents of LBGTQIA+ children are choosing between their child’s right-to-life or stay in large parts of the Catholic Church.  I also learned this from parenting Neurodiverse young adults... Read more

Five years ago, if someone would have told me that I would be publicly advocating for the LBGTQIA+ community, especially LBGTQIA+ young people, I wouldn’t have believed it, especially coming from my ultra-conservative religious background.  When I learned that the LBGTQIA+ experience is significantly higher in neurodivergent individuals, I knew my advocacy must expand to their basic human rights and safety as well as the disabled and neurodivergent I have served for many years.  As a practioner, I define neurodivergent... Read more

Coming from ultra-conservative past trad Catholic circles, I never dreamed that I would admire the recent action of the Flemish Bishops, one that actually rebelled against the authority of the Vatican to create same-sex liturgies.  How is it possible that little-old conservative Catholic me could condone such a thing. Simple, families are being destroyed when their children come out LBGTQIA+ in the Catholic Church. Parents have to choose between their child’s right-to-life or stay in the Catholic Church. It’s just... Read more

The Neuro-Catholic MamaBear (@dy0czm8581ex) TikTok | Watch The Neuro-Catholic MamaBear’s Newest TikTok Videos I didn’t comprehend how serious the related problems were with the LBGTQIA+ issue and neurodiverse populations in the Church and in religious schools until I started serving in LBGTQIA+ religious trauma recovery ministry almost a year ago, until I did a year’s worth of research, and until I spent time around older LBGTQIA+ adults.  I am a pediatric specialty therapist titled as an Academic Language Therapist, a... Read more

@dy0czm8581ex Neurodiversity and the LBGTQIA+ spectrum, consequences of rejection ♬ original sound – The Neuro-Catholic MamaBear   In my practice of Academic Language Therapy over the last twelve years, God has revealed over and over again how important my words are to my young patients.  From ages three to sixteen, I’m helping their minds grow and learn when disabilities and learning differences have historically hindered them.  Every word I say and every action I perform hopefully leads to a better... Read more

(Script below video) @dy0czm8581ex Raising a Son With Autism–Following Science is Pro-life ♬ original sound – The Neuro-Catholic MamaBear Hello, I’m Julie Nichols, the Neuro-Catholic MamaBear. Yesterday I spoke of my personal experience with neurosurgery and how it is pro-life to follow science.  Today, I will speak of my experience as a parent who raised a son with Autism.  Following science was pro-life in his case as it is for many other parents of Autistic children I personally know. I... Read more