How faith-based employers could be affected by a ruling in favor of L.G.B.T. employees remains to be seen. More than 20 states and Washington, D.C., have passed job protections for L.G.B.T. people.

The Supreme Court is about to commence on another highly contentious term, with many controversial items on its docket, from abortion to LGBT rights to immigration.

It was the pair’s first extended conversation, though Pope Francis is familiar with Father Martin’s work.

Pope Francis received Fr. James Martin S.J. in the papal library of the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace this morning.

In an email sent Monday to the Brebeuf school community, William Verbryke, S.J., the school’s president, wrote, “We have just learned that the Congregation for Catholic Education has decided to suspend the Archbishop’s decree on an interim basis, pending its final resolution of our appeal.”

Three recent examples show what it looks like for the institutional church to welcome L.G.B.T. Catholics in the context of Gospel values and church teaching.