Celibate LGBTQ+ adult women’s conversion to Catholicism: A theoretical model

This article examines the negotiation of sexual and religious identities of four celibate LGBTQ+ women who, as adults, convert to Catholicism. Through semi-structured interviews, a model of conversion was developed by integrating previous theoretical work on religion and identity. Important moments in the conversion process led to identity integration in these individuals: (1) Experiencing ‘The Call’ (the initial interest in Catholicism), (2) Encountering the Religious ‘Other’ (association with a welcoming and enduring Catholic LGBTQ+ Community), (3) Immersion in Church Teaching (relationship with Church Teaching and social movements in the Church), (4) Reframing Identity in the Context of the Church (internal restructuring of identity importance). Interviews with the four respondents indicate that some celibate LBGTQ women who choose to convert to Catholicism may experience minimal levels of cognitive dissonance.