(LifeSiteNews) – Recently, I had a discussion with a Catholic high school teacher that I know. I mentioned to him that I was getting business emails from colleagues whose email signature read: (she/her/hers). I told him that I was confused by it and I thought it was related to the current issue of transgenderism.
I asked him if he had any experience teaching transgender students, and he responded that he taught two transgender students this year and that there is a club for “LGBTQ” at his Catholic high school as well. He said that he had a long talk with the leader of this club who is transgender and he thought that if I spoke with him, I would be really impressed and would better understand transgenderism. He added that the school had gay faculty and chaplains as well.
I then inquired whether or not his Catholic high school taught Catholic teachings about transgenderism and homosexual acts to the students there. He then responded with: “you mean Jesus’ message of loving and not judging others?”
At this point, the debate was on. I was doing my best to defend the Catholic position against a Catholic school teacher that claims he is Catholic. It was clear he disagreed with the moral teachings of the Catholic Church regarding homosexual activity and transgenderism. I asked him, “Why don’t you just become Episcopalian?” He didn’t answer.
We all have free will and being Catholic is a choice. If one doesn’t agree with the teachings of the Catholic Church then they can just join another church that suits them.
One argument that heterodox Catholic school teachers of this type will make is that Jesus told us not to judge. This isn’t true. Jesus never said to not judge bad behavior. As a matter of fact, He warned repeatedly what would happen to those that persisted in sin or ignored the moral law:
…Whoever breaks[b] one of the least of these commandments [of the law], and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:19–20).
Going against the moral law and teaching others to do the same – that’s pretty serious according to Jesus.
As our discussion continued, we went back-and-forth a bit. I provided him with the Vatican document on transgenderism called “Male and Female He Created Them.” He didn’t respond.
I also sent him a link to the Catechism of the Catholic Church which was relevant to our discussion. He didn’t respond to that, either.
He asked me, “Do you think that having an actively homosexual relationship would send someone to Hell? And would you tell someone participating in homosexual activity that they are going to go to hell for that?”
“Very cleverly put,” I said. “Let’s put the shoe on the other foot. In light of 1 Corinthians 6:9, 10 (Do not be deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor active homosexuals [“arsenokoites,” literally men bedding men], nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor robbers will inherit the kingdom of God.), would you tell someone who is actively homosexual they will not go to hell if they persist in that behavior? And, do you believe a Catholic high school teacher who teaches that persisting in such behavior will not keep one from the Kingdom will not end in hell himself?”
He had no answer.
I added that the Catholic Church teaches that any unrepentant mortal sin will send someone to Hell forever. Then, I gave him a reference to the Catholic Catechism.
I continued, “Do you think it is love to tell a high school student that persisting in homosexual activity will not lead him to hell?” I asked. “Or do you think it might be dangerously patronizing to tell him that? It’s not loving to withhold the Biblical teaching on a person’s immoral behavior. As St. Paul wrote, ‘love rejoices in the truth.’” (1 Cor. 13:6)
It should be noted that the Church teaches that those with same-sex attraction “…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.” (CCC 2358) Nonetheless, the Church should be above all teaching people how to live in a way that will make them worthy of the Kingdom. It should be “teaching the truth in love.” (Ephesians 4:15)
I said, “If your LGBTQ Club fails to give Biblical and Church teaching on homosexual activity Perhaps your school should stop calling itself a Catholic school since its teachings are not Catholic. It seems to be false advertising, spiritual malpractice.”
He responded that he didn’t think his school’s approach to this topic is much different from that of most of the other Catholic high schools in the diocese. As if that would be a good excuse before God! If he is right, there are a good number of teachers and students who are headed for disaster.
The Church has a very good ministry for those with same-sex attraction. It’s called Courage and it has helped thousands to live chaste lives since its founding in 1982. Our high schools should be promoting Courage and its message to its students.
Teenagers are just getting started in life and their brains don’t develop fully until they’re 25. Teaching them Catholic doctrine before they head off to college or enter the “real world” would be a great gift. Many Catholic students in colleges leave their faith behind never to return. Many don’t even know what or why Catholic doctrine is because their Catholic high schools never taught them. How sad.
Of my 8 closest friends from my Catholic high school graduating class, I don’t think any others attend Mass regularly anymore. They may attend once or twice per year with their families but that’s about it. Many people crave authentic Catholicism and not the watered down version that’s being taught in some of our Catholic schools.
In my opinion Catholic schools should be pushing back against a culture that’s clearly in decline. Atheism is spreading rapidly. Church attendance is declining. Materialism is becoming the official religion. Radical individualism is making people worship themselves instead of God. For every one person that converts to Catholicism, six leave the Church.
What can be done about this? I would hope the bishops at least would step in and try to make sure Catholic schools teach Catholic teachings. The current situation isn’t doing any good for the students and their future both in this world and the next.
(This article is based in part on an online conversation between the author and his former high school religion teacher.)