CV NEWS FEED // The Diocese of Nottingham has just announced that it will be banning June “pride” month celebrations at its Catholic schools, stating “we cannot celebrate lifestyles which are incompatible with Church teaching.”
As the Catholic Church remembers the Sacred Heart of Jesus in June, the Nottingham Diocese released a new document titled, Precious in My Sight, detailing the reasons why Catholic schools cannot partake in the celebration of pride month, which also falls in June.
“In summary, it is not appropriate for our schools to celebrate Pride because we cannot endorse the entire agenda,” the document states, adding:
To approve only one part of it could be seen as dishonest and could lead to confusion. We must instead seek to articulate those values and principles with which we can agree, and affirm Catholic teaching in a different, distinct and pastorally positive way.
The 40-page document provides extensive guidance on how Catholics should approach issues related to homosexuality, as well as sex and gender.
Nottingham Bishop Patrick McKinney stated in his introduction to the document that one of the goals in publishing the guidance was to provide headteachers and staff with resources and support in approaching sensitive pastoral moments with students who question their gender:
I pray that this working document will be received in the manner with which it was prepared, namely to provide clarity of teaching and some practical support, guidance, and formation for those engaged in the accompaniment of students in our schools who are questioning their gender
“The Diocese is keenly aware that the wider cultural and legal landscape on these issues is rapidly changing,” the bishop noted: “For that reason this document will be kept under regular review and updated as needed.”
In addition, among other things, the document forbids teachers from using alternate names or pronouns that do not correspond with the biological sex of students and prohibits students from using designated spaces, such as bathrooms or changing areas, that do not correspond with their biological sex.
