Sydney  - A lobby group of gay and lesbian Catholics was told Friday it could not convene a forum as part of next month's World Youth Day in Sydney.

The group, which calls itself Acceptance, had initially been promised it could be part of an event held somewhere in the world every three years.

"I can't imagine that Jesus would deny dialogue between the gay and lesbian community," Acceptance spokeswoman Judy Brown said. "I think he would've been out there embracing them."

World Youth Day chief operating officer Danny Casey said the decision reflected the church's teachings.

"If what's being promoted, particularly under the World Youth Day banner, is inconsistent with church teachings then clearly that's not something we'd be in a position to support," he said.

The forum will go ahead without the imprimatur of World Youth Day, the highlight of which will be a mass presided over by Pope Benedict XVI. The pontiff will be in Australia July 12-21. (dpa)