Catholic school supporting student's choice to become transgender

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Michali

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My children’s Catholic school just sent an email stating that one of the middle school girls has decided to become transgender and will return to school as a boy. The principle said that she and the priest discussed the matter with the student’s parents and they are supportive of her decision. She (he) will however use the private restrooms, and will change for PE in there.

My son, also in middle school, told me that the principle told them all today that this student will now go by the new name of (withheld for privacy) and everyone is to address “him” as a boy from now on. They are also not allowed to discuss this matter at school and if they do not follow these instructions they will “get in trouble”, as my son put it. I spoke with one other parent about my concerns and apparently they were fine with this. Their only concern seemed to be that the school needs to be understanding of the other student’s feelings.

I am not at all comfortable with this. My son will not be forced to go against ours and the Church’s beliefs to call this girl a boy for the sake of their comfort. I do not believe they should treat this girl hatefully, but we do send our children to a Catholic school to be brought up to learn the true faith, including true and proper morality. This world is confusing enough for our children, but this is not right to have them try to force things such as this on our children where they should feel safe to live out their faith without persecution from those seeking acceptance for their own immorality.

I’m checking on transferring my children to another Catholic school and will be informing the Archdiocese of this situation. I don’t know what else to do really.
 
We had several transgender students at the public school where I worked. They are truly struggling with so much in their lives, and I guess I chose to make that part of their life easier. I referred to them by whatever name they wanted. I also complimented them when their nail polish was a nice color or their make up was applied with talent. I’m just now sure how we can hold these children responsible for some of their decisions - I highly suspect that parental pressure is often involved. I just know I didn’t want to be the one that caused their meltdown and subsequent suicide threat. Pray for them and leave it to God.
 
If so, it’s gutless caving. The principal should be fired and the pastor relieved of duty.
 
What’s done in public schools is utterly irrelevant here.
 
Not really. I am Catholic and see it as a sign of charity - there are some things only God and control and this is one of them. It’s even stranger that I would have been more judgmental in my Baptist life. Now, I pray and let God.
 
I disagree - when you have a young child who may be suffering from some extreme home situations, mental confusion, whatever, our job is to be charitable and pray - the Holy Spirit can do the convicting. It would do more harm than good to say to a kid in this situation “you’re sinning.” I’m just not going to be that one.
 
Catholic schools don’t enable “transitioning.”
 
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What the school is actually doing is modeling kindness and a safe place to learn. l personally know a female who said she way gay and "married’ in our state. After several years, she is now married to a male. And another female who is identifying as male, but then at times female. These poor kids are so confused. All the better if they can be in a Catholic School and not feel they are the scum of the earth and be bullied. Yes, It is a shame that this all is happening, but this is the reality of our world right now and it’s up to us to condemn the sin, but the the sinner - which is this case, is a child.
 
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The trouble in this case is that the condemnation of the sin itself is not happening.
 
I am not in any way saying that anyone should be trying to make the child feel bad. The sin is more on the parents. I feel for those who are suffering. I go out of my way when I see transgender people in the stores and other places to try to make them feel loved, because I truly do believe that they are where they are because they have been hurt and made to feel unloved.

This does not mean they should be permitted to continue at a school where this should be acknowledged as morally wrong. The other children should not be forced to call them a boy. It is confusing our children. They should be taught to love everyone, but not to accept immorality or support it.
 
Regrets but can’t even read your entire post op. This is a Catholic school? This principal has no right to go against the ten commandments and church teaching. Send him packing…he is confusing the students.
 
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Michali said:
My son will not be forced to go against ours and the Church’s beliefs to call this girl a boy for the sake of their comfort.
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I am not aware of a Church teaching that says this is the case. It is only good manners to call someone what they ask to be called, especially in this situation. I think you are conflating that with other Church teachings on human sexuality.
 
If this were a public school, it might be one thing that in these days we have to get used to but in a Catholic school I think they are failing in their mission to be a truly Catholic school.
 
I’ll probably be a minority voice here, but I think you are in the wrong. Another student being transgender doesn’t adversely affect you or your child in any way. Calling someone by the name they want to be called by doesn’t hurt your son. Teaching him that transgender people are to be feared, however, is likely to cause harm to his moral character.
 
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I will make this a quick response. A religious school should not allow behavior which contradicts core teaching. If the parents wish to allow their child to dress/act as the other gender at home, fine. At school, this is truly ridiculous to push on other students and faculty.
Dominus vobiscum
 
Perhaps I’m overly naïve here, but I tend to view this issue in the same way as the Catholic teaching on homosexuality (but obviously adapted). That is to say that as Catholics we uphold the dignity of the person in question and address them by the “new” name and “preferred gender pronoun” - it’s not for me to decide if the person in question is genuinely transgender or not. This is the reason as to why we stopped conversion therapy to make the people “realise that they are straight” because gay people are indeed attracted to the same-sex and I can’t refute that because it is true. Some people’s cross just happens to be issues with sexuality. We’re all different, with different struggles in life. Equally, if a person is transgender, then its their battle. I will support the person but not the transgenderism. This is not to say that I agree that what they are doing is right, I uphold that it is contrary to natural law since God made us male and female without mistake. However, it is not my job to condemn them to Hell for their choice.

One of my best friends identifies as the opposite gender to their biological sex. So this recently became a real-life situation for me. Also, I do address this other person by their preferred name and gender.
 
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I’m not quite sure that this is bowing down. The child and the gender dysphoria are two separate entities, the child still deserves as much respect as ever.
 
So instead of trying to correct them in a gentle way, you enable them? Really?

That isn’t charity. Charity is helping that person see the error of their ways and leading them to God. You wouldn’t tell a drug addict “it’s okay to be doing that” you don’t tell a child that it’s okay to invert what God gave them. For pete’s sake the child isn’t even old enough to smoke, vote, or join the military, yet it is old enough to think God gave it the wrong gender? That’s utter madness.

I mean, I get it, you work for the public school system and the terrible agendas that come with it, but it is still your duty as a Christian to fight agianst that evil anyway you can. Disagreeing with the child and at least trying to convince the child that it is making a mistake is FAR better than enabling it and letting God do all the work. God calls us to act not sit on the sidelines and enable them. I highly suggest you read the book of Ezekiel. Because enabling sin doesn’t fly well with God.
 
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