From Faithful in the 8th
As per the Human Rights Campaign, "gender identity" refers to how a person views her or himself, regardless of whether that perception corresponds with anatomy:
- "The
term 'gender identity,' distinct from the term 'sexual orientation,'
refers to a person's innate, deeply felt psychological identification as
male or female, which may or may not correspond to the person's body or
designated sex at birth (meaning what sex was originally listed on a
person's birth certificate)....A transsexual person has changed,
or is in the process of changing, his or her physical and/or legal sex
to conform to his or her internal sense of gender identity. The term can
also be used to describe people who, without undergoing medical
treatment, identify and live their lives full-time as a member of the
gender opposite their birth sex."
Regarding individuals with "deep-seated homosexual tendencies," the Church reminds us that "They must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided. These persons are called to fulfill God's will in their lives and, if they are Christians, to unite to the sacrifice of the Lord's Cross the difficulties they may encounter from their condition" (Catechism of the Catholic Church, #2358). The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith also states that "In assessing proposed legislation, the Bishops should keep astheir uppermost concern the responsibility to defend and promote family life" (Letter to the Bishops of the Catholic Church on the Pastoral Care of Homosexual Persons, 1986).
- Following the mandate "to defend and promote family life," the USCCB has expressed concern that "ENDA [i.e., S. 815, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2013], if enacted, could be used to punish as discrimination what the Catholic Church teaches....The bill’s treatment of 'gender identity' ...would have an adverse effect on privacy and associational rights of others" (letter to the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions from Bishop Stephen E. Blaire, Archbishop William E. Lori, and Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone). With regard to Pennsylvania's two U.S. senators (both of whom identify themselves as Catholic), Robert Casey, Jr, has been a co-sponsor of S. 815, since 5/16/13.
- On the state level, HB 300 and SB 300 speak of "freedom from discrimination in...public accommodation," regardless of "'gender identity or expression'":
- "California
Gov. Jerry Brown just signed a law aimed specifically at schools,
requiring them to permit any student to use any restroom or locker room,
no questions asked. And this scenario would play out across
Pennsylvania if the recently introduced HB/SB 300 were to be approved by
the state Legislature. HB/SB 300 is being sold as a 'sexual orientation
and gender identity' employment nondiscrimination bill, but in states
and cities with similar ordinances the reach of the law always stretches
to bathrooms, locker rooms, dorm rooms and any other public facility
traditionally segregated by gender" ( Philadelphia Inquirer, 8/21/13).
Of state representatives listed as co-sponsors of HB 300, as many as 18 are identified as Catholic (i.e., Brendan Boyle, Thomas Caltagirone, Mike Carroll, Dominic Costa, Paul Costa, Tina Davis (???), Frank Dermody, John Galloway*, Patrick Harkins, Joseph Markosek, Michael McGeehan, Thomas Murt, Eddie Day Pashinski, John Sabatina, Mario Scavello, Thomas Killion, Robert Matzie, and Catherine Harper). As many as 10 senators co-sponsoring SB 300 are identified as Catholic (i.e., Patrick Browne, Jay Costa, Chuck McIlhinney, Lisa Boscola, Wayne Fontana, John Blake, Mike Stack, Sean Wiley, John Yudichak, and Richard Kasunic).
From Bucks County, in addition to Cardinal Dougherty/LaSalle University alumnus Tina Davis, Bishop Egan alumnus John Galloway*, and OLMC parishioner Chuck McIlhinney, the following are co-sponsors of HB 300/SB 300:
~ Bishop Conwell/St Joseph's University alumnus Marguerite Quinn,
~ Holy Family alumnus Steve Santarsiero, and
~ Villanova alumnus Scott Petri.
* In an 8/26/13 phone conversation, Representative Galloway advised that he has removed his name as a co-sponsor.
- SB 872
disregards the welfare of minors, assaulting parental rights and the
right to informed consent. Senators Anthony Williams, LeAna Washington,
Judith Schwank, Jim Ferlo, Daylin Leach, Mike Stack (who is identified as a Catholic from Philadelphia), and Sean Wiley (who is identified as a Catholic from Erie) are co-sponsoring SB 872, "Prohibiting
mental health professionals from engaging in sexual orientation change
efforts with an individual under 18 years of age."
Dr. Rick Fitzgibbons of Montgomery County is a psychiatrist, member of the PediatricPsychosocial Development Committee of the American College ofPediatricians, and director of the Institute for Marital Healing. Dr. Fitzgibbons maintains that "Youth have the right to be provided informed consent about the serious medical and psychiatric illnesses, and risks, of the homosexual lifestyle. Pediatricians, mental health professionals, physicians, nurses and school counselors have a clear legal responsibility to do so, and parents, family members, educators, and clergy a grave moral responsibility" (Same-Sex Attractions in Youth and Their Right to Informed Consent, 5/21/12).
As residents of Bucks County, let's ask representatives and senators to oppose HB 300 and SB 300; ask senators to oppose SB 872. Clicking the below names will prepare an email for that legislator (These links will probably work better directly from the web site.):
Email Rep. Clymer
Email Rep. Davis
Email Rep. DiGirolamo
Email Rep. Farry
Email Rep. Galloway
Email Rep. O'Neill
Email Rep. Petri
Email Rep. Quinn
Email Rep. Santarsiero
Email Rep. Watson
**********************
Email Senator Greenleaf
Email Senator McIlhinney
Email Senator Mensch
Email Senator Tomlinson
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Posted to Faithful Citizenship in Pennsylvania's 8th Congressional District at 9/01/2013 06:16:00 AM
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