Loretto joins with nearly 30 women religious congregations to affirm, honor transgender community

Loretto President Barbara Nicholas, on behalf of the Sisters of Loretto/Loretto Community, signed the statement below, which was released on March 31, 2023, Transgender Day of Visibility. Loretto was one of many women’s religious congregations and communities that, along with the White House, the U.S. Attorney General, many U.S. Cabinet Secretaries, and scores of faith groups, LGBTQ and civil rights organizations, and other advocacy groups joined in one voice to affirm our transgender, nonbinary and gender expansive siblings and denounce increasing hate and harmful government action directed against transgender persons. Here is the statement Barbara signed on Loretto’s behalf:

As vowed Catholic religious and our partners in mission, we wholeheartedly affirm that transgender, nonbinary, and gender-expansive individuals are beloved and cherished by God. We mark March 31, International Day of Transgender Visibility, as a time to celebrate, acknowledge, and uplift folks who identify as transgender, nonbinary, or gender-expansive. We know our actions and commitments must extend beyond this day’s observance.

As members of the body of Christ, we cannot be whole without the full inclusion of transgender, nonbinary, and gender-expansive individuals. At this moment in the United States, transgender people are experiencing harm and erasure due to:

The introduction and approval of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation across several states
Harmful rhetoric from some Christian institutions and their leaders, including the Catholic Church
Daily discrimination and violence

The Gospel call of unifying love compels us to actively interrupt harmful interactions in daily life and dismantle the systems that reinforce this rhetoric and violence in society, particularly for Black, Indigenous, and other folks of color. We will remain oppressors until we — as vowed Catholic religious — acknowledge the existence of LGBTQ+ people in our own congregations. We seek to cultivate a faith community where all, especially our transgender, nonbinary, and gender-expansive siblings, experience a deep belonging.

May we act to transform our hearts, our church, our politics, and our country to ensure that the dignity of our trans, nonbinary, and gender-expansive siblings are acknowledged, boldly accepted, and celebrated.

Stirred to Act

Learn: Check if elected officials are attacking LGBTQ+ rights in your state legislature with this nationwide anti-trans bill tracker: Trans Legislation Tracker
Support: The Trevor Project, Transgender Law Center, New Ways Ministry, or another organization supporting transgender individuals
Evaluate: Assess your religious community’s capacity to fully welcome trans folks, including internal attitudes, behaviors, policies, and having gender-neutral restrooms.
Act: Consider signing on as an individual, congregation or organization to the declaration: “Beloved by God”: https://belovedbygod.faith/

Statement Endorsers

This statement and call to action was prepared by representatives of several religious communities: U.S. Federation of the Sisters of St. Joseph, Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of- the-Woods, Indiana, and Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth JPIC office on behalf of the undersigned communities:

Adorers of the Blood of Christ, U.S. Region JPIC office
Atlantic-Midwest Provincial Council of the School Sisters of Notre Dame
Department of Social & Environmental Justice, Congregation of St. Joseph
Dominican Sisters of Houston Franciscan Peace Center, Clinton, Iowa
Leadership Council of the IHM Sisters, Monroe, MI
Leadership Team of the Sisters of Providence of Indiana Leadership Team
Sisters of St. Francis, Clinton, Iowa Leadership
Presentation Sisters of Dubuque
Leadership Team, Congregation of St. Joseph
Loretto at the United Nations
Loretto Feminist Network
Medical Mission Sisters — Justice Office
Office of Peace, Justice, and Ecological Integrity Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth
Provincial Council of the School Sisters of Notre Dame, Central Pacific Province
Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth Office of Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation
Sisters of Charity of Nazareth Congregational Leadership
Sisters of Charity of Nazareth Western Province Leadership
Sisters of Charity, BVM Leadership Team
Sisters of Loretto/Loretto Community
Sisters of Providence of Indiana Justice Coordinating Commission
Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet — Albany
Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi
Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet
Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield
Sisters of St. Joseph of Brentwood
The Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes Leadership Team and JPIC Office
U.S. Federation of the Sisters of St. Joseph