In response to the Detroit Archdiocese's new policies on gender identity, trans advocates have expressed dismay, citing concerns over the impacts these guidelines may have on transgender youth. Archbishop Allen Vigneron referred to transgender identity as "gender confusion," prompting Julissa Abad, a trans woman and the director of FAIR Michigan, to criticize his choice of language, "The actual term in transgender, I noticed he wouldn't even address what we are, which is trans or transgender," Abad told CBS Detroit.
These new policies, which will be enforced in parishes and Catholic schools within the diocese, include regulations that transgender kids will not be allowed to participate in sports, or use restrooms in accordance with their gender identity, their activities will be limited by biological sex; this rule has sparked a debate stirring both support and disappointment within the Catholic community, "I genuinely think they should be able to play whatever sports with whatever gender they identify and use the bathroom or have a gender-neutral restroom," Abad added, while acknowledging the support from many Catholics who see these as outdated policies.
Meanwhile, CatholicVote reflected a different stance, noting that Archbishop Vigneron in his pastoral letter, had emphasized the Church's teaching on human sexuality and called upon Catholics to be compassionate yet true to their teachings, claiming that, "Our response is not to become 'cultural warriors' looking for a battle against those with whom we disagree," he wrote, "Rather, we must steadfastly and lovingly proclaim with conviction the Gospel that each and every person’s body, as created, is made in God’s image and likeness, and therefore possesses an inviolable dignity."
According to the Detroit Free Press, Vigneron's comparisons of transgender identity to behaviors such as smoking and drinking during pregnancy in his letter have additionally unsettled some Catholic practitioners, "Individuals who face the challenge of gender confusion deserve, first and foremost, to receive our love, compassion, and support," Vigneron wrote, "Too often, however, there can be an insistence that compassion and accompaniment mean only that we should stand in solidarity with people and forego lovingly challenging them when their choices conflict with their real good."; Carolyn Shalhoub, vice president of Dignity Detroit, expressed her distress, "When I first saw ... the pastoral letter, I felt sick to my stomach," she told the Free Press.
The policy revisions are set to take effect starting August 1 and will impact a range of activities and documentation within the Archdiocese of Detroit's sphere, as Vigneron seeks to steer clear of legitimizing transgender identity in concordance with church law he submitted his resignation to the Vatican as per protocol upon reaching the age of 75, his stance has been noted as aligned with the conservative guidelines of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), "We will treat them with compassion, but treat them according to their God-given gender," Vigneron said in a podcast interview, emphasizing the diocese's intention to act with compassion, yet in alignment with their understanding of gender.
