After her gay son died by suicide in 2010, Jane Clementi made it her mission to stop the bullying of queer youth. So when an opportunity arose to work with bishops in the U.S. Roman Catholic Church which has long considered queer love to be sinful the grieving mother took it.

The result of this unique collaboration was a statement signed by 10 bishops, including a cardinal and an archbishop, that called on all people of good will to help, support, and defend queer youth.

The Catholic Church values the God-given dignity of all human life and we take this opportunity to say to our LGBT friends, especially young people, that we stand with you and oppose any form of violence, bullying or harassment directed at you, the bishops wrote in the statement, published Monday on a website for the Tyler Clementi Foundation, the charity honoring Clementis son.

Most of all, know that God created you, God loves you and God is on your side, the bishops added.

The signatories include Newark, New Jerseys Cardinal Joseph Tobin; Santa Fe, New Mexicos Archbishop John Wester; and Lexington, Kentuckys Bishop John Stowe.

Jane Clementi, a former Catholic herself, told HuffPost that the support of these church leaders feels huge to her.

It is a historical step forward in the ministry and outreach to LGBT people, she told HuffPost.

Queer Catholic advocates have welcomed the bishops efforts. At the same time, theyve pointed out that only a small fraction of American Catholic bishops have signed the letter so far. Furthermore, the statement doesnt acknowledge the religious roots of the bullying that LGBTQ kids face and how the American Catholic church may have actively contributed to these youths marginalization.

Those omissions have left some queer Catholics longing for much, much more.