Diocese Issues Policy Regarding Sexuality and Sexual Identity in Schools

August 15, 2023, WORCESTER, MA - The Diocese of Worcester has issued a standard policy for schools regarding sexuality and sexual identity. Entitled “Catholic Education and the Human Person,” it was approved by Bishop McManus in late June of this year and sent to all Catholic schools to incorporate into school handbooks beginning this fall.

“While some schools had policies in place, others did not. Individual situations were arising which underscored a need for a single policy which clearly states Church teaching and provides consistent application of that teaching across all our schools,” said David Perda, Ph.D., superintendent of Catholic Schools for the diocese.

The policy begins by pointing out various foundational sources. For example, from Canon Law, canon 795 states, “children and youth are to be nurtured in such a way that they are able to develop their physical, moral, and intellectual talents harmoniously, acquire a more perfect sense of responsibility and right use of freedom, and are formed to participate actively in social life.” The policy also references the Catechism of the Catholic Church and various teachings of Pope Francis, in particular his apostolic exhortation, Amoris Laetitia.

The policy points out that “Pope Francis has repeatedly stressed the importance of a proper understanding of our sexuality, warning of the challenge posed by ‘the various forms of an ideology of gender that denies the difference and reciprocity in nature of a man and a woman and envisages a society without sexual differences’ (Amoris Laetitia (“AL”), #56).  Pope Francis further notes that ‘biological sex and the sociocultural role of sex (gender) can be distinguished but not separated,’ and that although we must always be ‘understanding of human weakness and the complexities of life,’ that does not require us to ‘accept ideologies that attempt to sunder what are inseparable aspects of reality’ (Ibid).  … The Holy Father then stresses that ‘the young need to be helped to accept their own body as it was created,’ so that ‘we can joyfully accept the specific gifts of another man or woman, the work of God the Creator’ (AL, #285).

It continued, “As Pope Francis notes, we must always respect the sacred dignity of each individual person, but that does not mean the Church must accept the confused notions of secular gender ideology.” 

The following summarizes how the policy is applied to specific circumstances:

• Bullying, harassment, or threats or acts of violence against any student based on that student’s perceived sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity, will not be tolerated.
• For purposes of the school environment, chastity also encompasses modesty in language, appearance, dress, and behavior.   
• Students may not advocate, celebrate, or express same-sex attraction in such a way as to cause confusion or distraction in the context of Catholic school classes, activities, or events.
• All students are expected to conduct themselves at school in a manner consistent with their biological sex.  School practice shall consider the gender of all students as being consistent with their biological sex, including, but not limited to, the following: participation in school athletics; school-sponsored dances; dress and uniform policies; the use of changing facilities, showers, locker rooms, and bathrooms (with rare exceptions only on a limited, case-by-case basis, to be determined by the principal of the school); titles, names, and pronouns; and official school documents. 
• Diplomas, transcripts, school records, and any other official documents of the school (“official school documents”) shall be issued in conformity with the student’s biological sex as based upon physical differences at birth and at the time of the student’s enrollment. 

To read the complete policy, visit schools.worcesterdiocese.org/human-person