Sixila US Sisters in defense of the rights of trans people

Robert Shine* article published on the website of the LGBT Cattolica New Ways Ministry association (United States) on March 31, 2023, freely translated by Giacomo Tessaro

More than twenty female religious communities have published a declaration of solidarity towards transgender people, at a time when trans and non -binary people are increasingly under attack in civil society and in the Church.

The declaration "In Solidarity: Vowed Catholic religius honor trans day of visibility" (In solidarity. Catholic religious honored the day of trans visibility) was signed by several female communities, which in total resemble more than six thousand nuns in eighteen states of the United States.

The declaration begins with the statement "Transgender people, non-binary and gender-expansive are loved by God ", And he continues: "As members of the body of Christ, we cannot be a complete body without the full inclusion of transgender, non-binary and gender-execsive people. At this moment, in the United States, transgender people are facing enormous pain in the street:

• approval, in many states, of anti-Lgbtq+laws;
• of the toxic rhetoric of many Christian institutions, including the Catholic Church, and their leaders;
• discrimination and daily violence.

"The Gospel calls us to a love that unites, and strongly invites us to interrupt the harmful interactions in our daily life, and to dismantle the systems that strengthen toxic rhetoric and violence in society, in particular as regards color and indigenous people. We will always remain oppressors, until we, Catholic religious, will not recognize the existence, in our congregations, LGBTQ+.

The declaration ends with an invitation to "Transforming our hearts, our Church, our policy and our country" to ensure that the trans community "It is recognized, and courageously accepted and celebrated". The declaration contains an appendix that lists various resources to study, act, support and evaluate what happens in communities; There is also the invitation to support various projects for the benefit of transgender people, including New Ways Ministry.

The declaration was drawn up by the US Federation of the Sisters of San Giuseppe, by the Sisters of the Providence of Saint Mary-Of-The-Woods and by the office for justice, peace and integrity of the creation of the Sisters of the Charity of Leavenworth.

A non -binary member of a religious order declared to [the Catholic press agency] Religion News Service that "It is time for religious communities to raise their voice against injustice, violence and exclusion of trans and non -binary people", then adding his hope that this declaration makes everyone aware that even in religious congregations, and not only outside them, transgender and non -binary people exist.

Religion News Service The words of Sister Barbara Battista SP, one of the extensors of the declaration, who holds the role of promoter of justice of the Sisters of the Providence of Saint Mary-Of-The-Woods: "Sister Barbara Battista and the other nuns who spread the declaration first first to respond to the wave of law proposals that undermine the transgender rights. When the declaration of bishops was published, the nuns broke the delay.

“'I really believe it is urgent to say that there are many Catholic faithful who know an alternative way […] We have to find the opportunities to raise our voices and say: we are with you, we support you ' [declares Sister Barbara].

"Sister Barbara points out that many of the bill advanced in various states have to do with health services for the benefit of transgender people, and that this particularly offends it, being a graduate medical assistant; Sister Barbara describes her work as a participation in the Ministry of Healing of Jesus', which has its roots in a 'sacred confidence' among patients and health professionals.

"But the Catholic bishops and politicians have tried to" go into the field, very private, very personal and very intimate, of dialogue and decisions between health professionals and the people they need '".

With this declaration, the Catholic nuns are confirmed at the forefront in the inclusion of LGBTQ+people, protagonists of "An alternative way", in the words of Sister Barbara Battista, against some US bishops, who made the issues relating to gender identity a staple of their mission.

We at New Ways Ministry are truly grateful for this declaration, which is an invitation and provocation for each Catholic, and for the decades spent by religious in activism in favor of LGBTQ+people.

*Robert Shine (he) is associated director ofNew Ways Ministry, for which he has been working since 2012, and of Bondings 2.0 blog. He graduated in theology at the Catholic University of America and Boston College School of Theology and Ministry.

Original text: 6,000+ Catholic Sisters Issue statement of solidarity with transgender community