CATHOLIC Primate Dr Eamon Martin has met pro-gay faith groups at his residence in Armagh.
Dr Martin, the Archbishop of Armagh, met groups including Faith in Marriage Equality and We are Church Ireland on Wednesday.
Faith in Marriage Equality requested the meeting before the Republic's referendum on same-sex marriage in May.
Spokesman Dr Richard O'Leary said the meeting was a "positive step".
"We were positively received by Archbishop Martin who said he was committed to continuing dialogue and that he was particularly concerned about the pastoral care of gay persons," he said.
Brendan Butler of We are Church Ireland asked Archbishop Martin to consider the Church's approach to gay people during the Synod of Bishops in Rome in October.
He told the Archbishop “if the Catholic Church is to regain credibility not only with the gay and lesbian community but also with the wider Catholic community then existing Catholic teaching needs to change”.
A spokesman for the Catholic Church confirmed that the meeting took place.
