Denver Archdiocese tells Catholic schools they shouldn't enroll trans students

Publish date: 2024-05-21

The Archdiocese of Denver has directed local Catholic schools not to enroll transgender or gender non-conforming students.

In a 17-page document, the Archdiocese said progressive gender ideologies were a 'danger to the faith of Christians' and could not be supported by the church.

The guidance also noted trans and gender non-conforming students currently enrolled in schools should not be re-enrolled.

The document said schools 'must refuse' any requests that students be referred by alternative pronouns, that they must use bathrooms aligned with their birth-gender, and that schools should not recognize same-sex couples as a family unit.

Denver Archbishop Samuel Aquila has not commented on the document.

The Archdiocese of Denver directed local Catholic schools not to enroll transgender and gender non-conforming students

The Archdiocese of Denver directed local Catholic schools not to enroll transgender and gender non-conforming students

Denver Archbishop Samuel Aquila has not commented on the document. The Denver Archdiocese defended it

Denver Archbishop Samuel Aquila has not commented on the document. The Denver Archdiocese defended it 

The document, titled 'Guidance for Issues Concerning the Human Person and Sexual Identity' was obtained by the Denver Post and released on Monday.

It says 'a Catholic school cannot affirm a student's identity as transgender, gender nonconforming, non-binary, gender-fluid, gender-queer, or any other term that rejects the reality of the student's given male or female sexual identity.'

The document also explained that trans students should be removed from schools even if they comply with all 'relevant school rules,' because the situation would be 'not workable.'

The diocese said Catholic schools and trans students would be 'working from irreconcilable premises and moving towards incompatible goals' were the students to remain enrolled in the school. 

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The document's recommendations also extend to teachers, saying those who are transgender are 'not suited to teach in a Catholic school or to carry out the school's mission in any capacity.'

The Archdiocese confirmed the authenticity of the document, according to The Denver Post, and said it was written 'several years ago to clarify terminology and Catholic Church teaching regarding questions around gender.' The document was reportedly redistributed to schools this year.

The archdiocese defended the guidance in a statement to the ABC 7 Denver. 

'We don't expect everyone to ascribe to a Catholic worldview, but we strongly reject attempts to paint our position as bigoted or unloving,' a spokesperson said. 'It is precisely because of our love and reverence for the nature of the human person that we cannot stay quiet on this matter and must address what Pope Francis has said is the 'ideological colonization' taking place in our world today.'

Kae Madden, bishop of the Rocky Mountain region of the Ecumenical Catholic Communion said the church should be treating trans students with support, instead of rejecting them

Kae Madden, bishop of the Rocky Mountain region of the Ecumenical Catholic Communion said the church should be treating trans students with support, instead of rejecting them

Nadine Bridges, executive director of the LGBTQ advocacy group One Colorado, called the guidance 'disheartening'

Nadine Bridges, executive director of the LGBTQ advocacy group One Colorado, called the guidance 'disheartening'

The document was met with outrage from activists within the church and without.

Nadine Bridges, executive director of the LGBTQ advocacy group One Colorado, called the guidance 'disheartening.'

'When you are creating a space where some people can be accepted and other folks are not, then you are discriminating,' she said. 'I wish that the members of the Archdiocese would actually sit down with the community and have a really honest and authentic conversation on being inclusive.' 

Kae Madden, bishop of the Rocky Mountain region of the Ecumenical Catholic Communion said the church should be treating trans students with support, instead of rejecting them.

'Let's come together around people who are suffering, in whatever way that is, and love them into wholeness,' she said.

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