A Catholic bishop in Massachusetts has issued a blanket ban on bending school rules for transgender students.
It forces them to wear the correct uniform, use pronouns assigned at birth, enter the correct bathrooms, and play sports based on their biological sex.
The Bishop of Worcester, Robert McManus, passed the policy in June, banning students from expressing, celebrating or advocating “same-sex attraction in a way that causes confusion or distraction.”
It affects 21 schools in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Worcester, which has more than 5,260 pupils. It will come into effect next academic year.
The policy, announced on Aug. 15, has drawn criticism from several state lawmakers but has been praised by the Catholic Action League of Massachusetts.
A Catholic bishop in Massachusetts has issued a blanket ban on bending school rules for transgender students
The Bishop of Worcester, Robert J. McManus, approved the policy in June, and it prohibits students from expressing, celebrating, or advocating “same-sex attraction” in any way that causes confusion or distraction.
It affects 21 schools in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Worcester with more than 5,260 students. Pictured: Saint Paul’s Cathedral in Worcester
New guidelines require students to “behave at school in a manner consistent with their biological sex.”
Schools in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Worcester were sent the new policy to implement in handbooks for the new academic year.
The ‘Catholic Education and People’ policy requires students to ‘behave at school in accordance with their biological sex’.
They will have to use their name and pronouns assigned at birth and use the bathrooms, showers and changing areas according to their biological sex, which will be reflected on all school records.
This will also be consistent across sports, school-sponsored dances, and uniform policies.
Two high schools in the diocese wrote a joint letter to Bishop McManus earlier this month to say their board of directors had voted against the new policy.
Saint John’s and Notre Dame Academy are reportedly sponsored by independent religious orders, meaning they are not directly overseen by the Diocese of Worcester.
In a letter to students and families, Saint John’s Principal Alex Zequiera and Board of Trustees Chairman Tom Buckingham said, “(We) are confident that Saint John’s High School is already responding effectively to the matters outlined in the Bishop’s letter to the be addressed in a manner that respects the dignity of all persons.’
It is not yet clear whether and how the schools will be penalized if the new policy is not implemented.
But Bishop McManus has previously chastised those who disagree with his approach.
Two high schools in the diocese wrote a joint letter to Bishop McManus earlier this month to say their board of directors had voted not to approve the new policy
Saint John’s and Notre Dame Academy are reportedly sponsored by independent religious orders, meaning they are not directly overseen by the Diocese of Worcester
He dropped the Catholic affiliation of the Nativity School of Worcester after it refused to remove the Black Lives Matter and LGBTQ pride flags.
The school was also barred from celebrating mass and sacraments.
David Perda, superintendent of Catholic schools for the diocese, said in a statement: “Some schools had policies, others didn’t.
“Individual situations arose that underscored the need for a single policy that clearly states the teachings of the Church and ensures consistent application of those teachings across all of our schools.”
Massachusetts State Senator Robyn Kennedy, who was once a Catholic high school student, said she was “deeply disappointed with this policy.”
“My Catholicism taught me that we should love and care for each other,” she wrote on X.
“To the young people who are being harmed by this policy, please know that you are seen, that you are valued, that you are loved. Our world needs you. We celebrate you.’
Fellow Senator Jason Lewis lashed out at the policy on social media, highlighting how the diocese withheld the names of priests accused of sexual abuse in a report released earlier this year.
He said: ‘I am extremely disappointed to see Catholic schools in Worcester planning to ban pupils from expressing their identity and even using their own names in class.
It is not yet clear whether and how the schools will be penalized if the new policy is not implemented. But Bishop McManus has previously chastised those who disagree with his approach
He dropped the Catholic affiliation of the Nativity School of Worcester after it refused to remove the Black Lives Matter and LGBTQ pride flags
The Nativity School of Worcester school was also banned from celebrating Mass and the Sacraments
The same diocese that protected the names of known child molesters earlier this year and last year forced a school to stop calling itself Catholic after flying Pride and BLM flags continues to harm children with policies designed to exclude students and to disgrace.
“I hope the diocese will soon recognize the great damage they are doing and present new policies that support the love and inclusion that the Catholic Church preaches.”
But the policy was praised by the Catholic Action League.
Executive Director CJ Doyle said: “Catholic parents should have a reasonable expectation that Catholic schools will provide a genuine alternative to the secular values and practices – often at odds with Christian morals and parental rights – prevalent in the government-controlled public school system.’
Dailymail.com has contacted the Diocese of Worcester for comment.