Particular Law on Sexual Identity
-
The need for particular law
By Bishop Robert J. McManus
As the Bishop of the Diocese of Worcester, one of my primary responsibilities is to be the chief teacher of faith and morals. That responsibility does not allow me to create new teaching; rather, it is my grave responsibility to clarify the teachings that are found in our rich faith tradition, in conjunction with the foundational principles found in the natural moral law, which help guide us on our pilgrimage in this world toward to life eternal with Almighty God in heaven.
At this moment in our culture, there is a growing distortion and even outright rejection of the Church’s sexual moral teachings which are fundamental for living fully the Catholic life. Of particular concern is the phenomenon which denies that our human sexuality is a biological gift from God from birth. In its place, there is a troubling acceptance of the erroneous claim that sexuality is a fluid reality that can be chosen apart from one’s biological identity.
Sadly, there is also the disingenuous argument that the Church’s traditional teaching on sexual identity promotes discrimination, bullying and even hatred. While the Catholic Church clearly differs from the popular culture on the issue of sexuality and sexual identity at the same time, the moral teaching of the Church is steadfast in promoting and protecting the dignity of every person as a child of God. We can respectfully disagree with someone when their opinions differ from the Catholic Church’s foundational moral principles, while always loving each person as a child of God.
Therefore, I am promulgating this particular law for the Diocese of Worcester, a law that is rooted in the Church’s moral teaching as presented in the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the Code of Canon Law. This moral teaching has been reinforced and clarified by both St. John Paul II in Fides et Ratio and Pope Francis in Amoris Laetitia. In doing so, I wish to state clearly what is expected for a Catholic institution to be authentically Catholic in matters of human sexuality and thus support our pastors, pastoral staffs, Catholic school educators, religious education teachers and parish and diocesan youth leaders in fulfilling their pastoral responsibilities in regard to the issue of sexual identity.