By Tyler Arnold
An Iowa bishop issued new guidance for parishes, schools, and other institutions in his diocese, which calls for a “case-by-case approach” in the pastoral “accompaniment of sexual and gender minorities” while remaining “faithful to the Church’s teachings on sexuality and the nature of the human person.”
Bishop
Thomas Zinkula of the Diocese of Davenport promulgated the new guidance on Oct.
4, two weeks before he is set to depart from the diocese to begin his new role
as the archbishop of Dubuque on Oct. 18. The guidance stemmed from the work of
a committee set up in January 2021 to address sexual and gender identity issues
arising in schools and parishes.
“The
purpose of the guidelines is precisely both to affirm Church teaching and yet
to find a meaningful way for pastors, principals, and others to minister to
those they encounter in delicate pastoral situations,” Zinkula told CNA.
“We
hope to accompany them without denying their full personhood and dignity, or
Catholic teaching,” the bishop added.
When
handling these topics, the guidance emphasizes that “we are not dealing simply
with ideologies or issues” but instead with “people who are created in the
image and likeness of the Creator,” adding that “they are beloved children of
God.”
It
suggests giving people “the benefit of the doubt in regard to their experiences
and motivations,” arguing that “sexual minorities” who want a relationship with
the Church “are not trying to sabotage our institutions or challenge our
beliefs.”
According
to the guidance, the diocesan pastoral approach is to “show respect for the
dignity of all people; acknowledge people and their difficult circumstances;
listen for greater understanding; involve others in the decision-making
process; and work with individuals, families, and caretakers on a case-by-case
basis.” In adherence to a case-by-case approach, the guidance states that one
of the principles is making “reasonable and appropriate accommodations when
possible.”
Such
accommodations, however, must always coincide with Church teaching, according
to the bishop.
“We
clearly do not intend to do things like bless same-sex unions or approve of
homosexual acts,” Zinkula told CNA.
The
guidance lists other principles, which include respect for the dignity of the
human person, an acknowledgment of “people who experience differences in sexual
orientation or gender discordance,” a commitment to “loving people first” and
listening, and involving others such as families, professionals, and
collaborators in the discernment process.
According
to the guidance, the Church has a “special responsibility to look out for the
physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being of those entrusted to our care”
and “we must strive to protect lives and souls from harm.”
In a letter to the faithful that Zinkula published along
with the new guidance, the bishop said he formed the committee amid clergy,
school personnel, and parish staff expressing their desire to learn how to
better minister to people who “are experiencing gender discordance or
differences in sexual orientation.”
The
bishop added in his letter that the committee “sought out a number of people
who live on this periphery, namely individuals identifying as LGBTQ+ and their
families” to hear “about their experiences and [learn] what they hope for from
the Church.” He said the committee reviewed theological, medical, and human
resources articles, attended online webinars, and reviewed statements and
policies from the Vatican, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops,
and other dioceses.
Zinkula’s approach to these issues differs a bit from the
neighboring Diocese of Des Moines, which sits just to the west of the Diocese
of Davenport.
In January, the Diocese of Des
Moines took a more hard-line approach to issues related to
gender ideology, in which it banned the use of puberty blockers, transgender
pronouns, and the use of bathrooms that do not align with a person’s biological
sex within its schools.
However, the diocese used language similar to the Diocese of
Davenport in some regards, such as an emphasis on respecting “the personal
dignity of individuals who may express tension or concerns about their
biological sex.”
***
Tyler Arnold is a staff reporter for the National Catholic Register. He previously worked at The Center Square and has been published in a variety of outlets, including The Associated Press, National Review, The American Conservative and The Federalist.
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