Gender Identity Policy

Communications, Press Releases
Mar 10, 2021

The Catholic Diocese of Salina and its affiliated organizations stand with the Church teachings that “Everyone, man and woman, should acknowledge and accept his (or her) sexual identity”, as given by God. See Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2333.

Unfortunately, if passed, the Equality Act will discriminate against the Catholic Church and the beliefs it was founded on.

As stated by the USCCB, the Equality Act:

1. exempts itself from the bipartisan Religious Freedom Restoration Act, in an explicit and unprecedented departure from one of America’s founding principles, thereby infringing on religious freedom and making it more difficult for individuals to live out their faith

2. forces religiously operated spaces and establishments, such as church halls, to either host functions that violate their beliefs or close their doors to their communities

3. requires women to compete against men and boys in sports, and to share locker rooms and shower facilities with men and boys

4. forces faith-based charities that serve all people to violate their religious beliefs, and threatens the welfare of thousands of beneficiaries of charitable services such as shelters and foster care agencies, by forcing a multitude of them to be shut down

5. jeopardizes existing prohibitions on the use of federal taxpayer funds for abortion, likely pressuring or even mandating the performance of abortions by health care providers in violation of their consciences, and ultimately ending more human lives

6. hinders quality health care, by forcing health care professionals, against their best medical judgment, to support treatments and procedures associated with “gender transition.”

Tell your elected officials to oppose the Equality Act by visiting https://www.votervoice.net/USCCB/Campaigns/80967/Respond

The following policies have been put in place for our Diocese.

1. All Catholic parishes, schools, institutions, departments, entities, charities agencies, juridic persons, or other affiliated entities, etc. shall respect the biological sex of the human person as given by God and apply all policies and procedures in relation to that person according to that person’s God-given biological sex.

2. All clergy, employees, and volunteers shall conduct themselves in accord with their God-given biological sex.

3. Diocesan schools’ partner with families to educate and form students consistent with the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ and His Church, and so families are expected to live in accord with Gospel values, particularly regarding actions and behaviors that are public. Students and parents (or legal guardians) shall conduct themselves in accord with their God-given biological sex.