Dear Parishioners, in early May, the Diocese of Spokane put on a Study Days for all the priests of the diocese. The topic was Gender Dysphoria and Ideology presented by John Brehany, Phd, STL of The National Catholic Bioethics Center. The presentation over a two-day period was very informative but also very sad and depressing to realize what is being done to children with puberty blocking drugs and gender reassignment surgeries, with most of this irreversible.

This “Gender Ideology” has powerful political, governmental, corporate and financial backing that is influencing all levels of society and educational institutions. All I can say is Gender Ideology is evil and let’s call it what it is: child abuse. It goes against our Christian view anthropology, the dignity of the human person and marriage. This is the latest organized attack on traditional marriage and the family.

About a year ago our diocese put out a Guidance on Gender Ideology. We have posted this on our website (at www.chewelahcatholic.org/dioceses-guidance-on-gender-ideology), with a few hard copies available at each parish, for those who would like to be more informed about what our Church teaches. In the fall, at Faith Night, I will be doing a series on Gender Ideology and the Catholic response. I will be using material from the Diocese Guidance and Dr. John Brehany’s presentation.

Gender Ideology is also influencing our state government and we have an urgent issue before us in which you can make your voice heard. Our state legislature recently passed SB 5599, which allows the state to harbor children and provide medicalized gender treatments without their parents’ knowledge. We will be making a Petition for Referendum available to sign at each parish, if you wish. This petition is a petition to reject SB 5599, which allows the state to take away parental rights. We will have it available after each mass next weekend, June 24-25, for those interested in signing it. It will also be available for the weeks following until it’s due to the state July 15.

Click here to see the Diocese of Spokane's Guidance on Gender Ideology