USCCB Committee Chairmen Applaud the Repeal of “Dear Colleague Letter on Transgender Students”

February 24, 2017
By Ss. Peter & Paul

WASHINGTON– The chairmen
of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on Laity,
Marriage, Family Life and Youth and the Committee on Catholic Education, expressed
gratitude for the Trump Administration’s repeal of the “deeply disturbing” May
2016 guidance issued by the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Department
of Education entitled “Dear Colleague Letter on Transgender Students.”

Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M.
Cap., of Philadelphia, chairman of the Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family
Life and Youth, and Bishop George V. Murry, S.J., of Youngstown, Ohio, chairman
of the Committee on Catholic Education, together issued the following
statement:

We are grateful that the Trump Administration has withdrawn
the guidance which had indicated that public pre-K through 12 schools, as well
as all colleges and universities, should treat “a student’s gender identity as
the student’s sex.” The Dear Colleague Letter sought to impose a
one-size-fits-all approach to dealing with sensitive issues involving
individual students. Such issues are
best handled with care and compassion at the local level, respecting the
privacy and safety concerns of all students.

Pope Francis has taught that “biological sex and the socio-cultural
role of sex (gender) can be distinguished but not separated” (Amoris Laetitia, no. 56). The Catholic Church consistently affirms the
inherent dignity of each and every human person and advocates for the wellbeing
of all people, particularly the most vulnerable. Children, youth, and parents in these
difficult situations deserve compassion, sensitivity, and respect. All of these can be expressed without
infringing on legitimate concerns about privacy and security on the part of all
young students and parents.

Keywords:
Archbishop Charles Chaput, Bishop George Murry, U.S. Conference of Catholic
Bishops, USCCB, Title IX, Dear Colleague Letter on Transgender Students, repeal

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MEDIA CONTACT:
Judy Keane
O: 202-541-3200

Source:: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops