Roman Catholic Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades expressed significant concerns about the change in admission policy at Saint Mary’s College, a Catholic women’s college, which now considers for admission not only applicants whose sex is female but also those who consistently live and identify as women.
In a recent statement the Bishop emphasized that this shift departs from fundamental Catholic teaching on the nature of womanhood and compromises the college’s identity as a Catholic institution. He pointed out that the ideology affirming gender as a subjective experience separate from biological sex contradicts Catholic teaching, which sees the unity of body and soul and recognizes sexual identity as an innate aspect of one’s nature created by God.
Bishop Rhoades highlighted Pope Francis’ teachings, which emphasize the inseparability of biological sex and socio-cultural gender roles, cautioning against ideologies that try to separate these aspects of reality. He stressed that truth and love must go hand in hand, expressing concern that the new policy might prioritize an inclusive environment over adherence to Catholic doctrine. He called on Saint Mary’s College to uphold its Catholic identity and mission by rejecting gender ideologies that contradict the Church’s teachings on the human person, sex, and gender. This includes recognizing and respecting every individual’s dignity as created in the image of God, while not affirming views of sexual identity that diverge from Catholic understanding.
You can read his full statement below.
Our Christian Identity is grounded in both Truth and Love.
Pope Francis teaches about the intimate connection between truth and love in his first encyclical, Lumen Fidei (The Light of Faith). He writes:
“Love requires truth. Only to the extent that love is grounded in truth can it endure over time, can it transcend the passing moment and be sufficiently solid to sustain a shared journey. If love is not tied to truth, it falls prey to fickle emotions and cannot stand the test of time. True love, on the other hand, unifies all the elements of our person and becomes a new light pointing the way to a great and fulfilled life” (#27).
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And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:14, ESV