Diocesan Policies and Other Resources

Diocesan Policies

• Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, “Formation of Young People in Catholic Christian Anthropology and Pastoral Accompaniment of Those who Experience Gender Incongruence or Same-Sex Attraction” (2024)
• Archdiocese of Detroit, “The Good News About God’s Plan: A Pastoral Letter on the Challenges of Gender Identity” (2024)
• Diocese of Madison, “Policy on the Human Person: Authentic Human Anthropology, Sexuality, Chastity, and Marriage” (2023)
  • See Spanish Translation (2023)
• Diocese of Tulsa, “An Instruction on the Human Person and Pastoral Issues Relating to Identity and Sexuality” (2023)
  • See Spanish translation (2023)
• Diocese of Davenport, “Guidelines for Pastoral Accompaniment of Sexual and Gender Minorities” (2023)
• Archdiocese of San Francisco pastoral letter, “The Body-Soul Unity of the Human Person” (2023)
• Diocese of Cleveland, “Parish and School Policy on Issues of Sexuality and Gender Identity” (2023)
• Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, “On the Unity of Body and Soul: Accompanying Those Experiencing Gender Dysphoria” by Archbishop Paul Coakley (2023)
• Diocese of Worcester, “Catholic Education and the Human Person” A diocesan policy for schools regarding sexuality and sexual identity, (2023)
• Diocese of Baker, “A Body You Prepared for Me” (2023)
• Diocese of Boise, “A Catholic Response to Gender Identity Theory” (2023)
• Archdiocese of Baltimore, “LGBT Pastoral Accompaniment” (2023)
• Archdiocese of Portland, “A Catholic Response to Gender Identity Theory: Catechesis and Pastoral Guidelines” (2023)
• Diocese of Des Moines, “Gender Identity Guide and Policies” (2023)
• Diocese of Stockton, “Transgender Pastoral Guidelines and Policy” (2022)
• Diocese of Sioux Falls, “Conforming with the Church’s Teaching on Human Sexuality in Education Settings” (2022)
• Diocese of Manchester, “Gender Identity”
• Diocese of Lafayette, “Sexual Identity Policy for Schools” as published in school handbook (pg 67, 2022)
• Diocese of Green Bay, “Education Policy Manual” (2022)
• Archdiocese of Omaha, “Pastoral Guidelines for Gender Dysphoria” (2022)
  • Archdiocese of Omaha, “Gender Policy for Schools” (2022)
• Archdiocese of Milwaukee, “Catechesis and Policy on Questions Concerning Gender Theory” (2022)
• Diocese of Saginaw, “Questions and Answers about LGBTQ+ and Gender Identity that Catholic Educators, Catechists and Youth Ministers may Find Helpful” (2022)
• Diocese of Charleston, “Policy on the Human Person: Created Male and Female as a Constitutive Aspect of the Human Person” (2021)
  • See Spanish here
• Diocese of Marquette, “Created in the Image and Likeness of God: An Instruction on Some Aspects of the Pastoral Care of Persons with Same-Sex Attraction and Gender Dysphoria” (2021)
• Archdiocese of Seattle, “Final Report of the Archdiocesan Task Force on the Ministerial Covenant” (2021)
• Diocese of Arlington, “A Catechesis on the Human Person and Gender Ideology” (2021)
  • See Spanish translation here
• Archbishop Carlson, “Compassion and Challenge: Reflections on gender ideology,” July 31, 2020. (Now-retired bishop of St. Louis, MO)
  • Archdiocese of St. Louis, “Hope and Holiness: Pastoral Care for Those with Same-Sex Attraction”
• Diocese of Salina, “Gender Identity Policy Statement” (2021)
• Archdiocese of Denver, “The Splendor of the Human Person: A Catholic Vision of the Person and Sexuality” (2021)
• Diocese of Toledo, “Policy Statement on Gender-Related Matters”
• Diocese of Lansing, “Policy on the Human Body as a Constitutive Aspect of the Human Person” (2021)
  • Accompanying Theological Guide: “The Human Person and Gender Dysphoria“
• Diocese of Fairbanks, “Pastoral Guide to Gender Identity” (2020)
• Diocese of Springfield, “Pastoral Guide on Gender Identity” (2020)
• Archdiocese of Indianapolis Pastoral Letter, “We are One in Christ: A Pastoral Letter on Fundamentals of Christian Anthropology” (2018)
• Catholic Bishops of Minnesota, “Guiding Principles for Catholic Schools and Religious Education Concerning Human Sexuality and Sexual Identity” (2019)
• Catholic Bishops of Alaska, “Living in the Image and Likeness of God: Human Dignity and Divine Designs” (2018)
  • See Spanish translation here

Other Bishops’ Presentations and Statements

• Bishop James Conley; Diocese of Lincoln, “The Joy and Wonder of Catholic Education: Developing Authentically Catholic Schools” (2024)
• USCCB: “Doctrinal Note on the Moral Limits to Technological Manipulation of the Human Body” (March 20, 2023).
• USCCB: Gender Ideology Teaching Resources 
• USCCB: “Created Male and Female: An Open Letter from Religious Leaders” (2017) 
• Bishop Robert McMannus, Diocese of Worcester, Massachusetts, “Transgenderism: The Multifaceted Challenges to the Moral Teachings of the Church,” presentation at the Divine Mercy Medicine, Bioethics, and Spirituality Conference, May 2019
  • This presentation provides a general perspective as well as comments on Catholic higher education.
  • Note: Bishop’s presentation begins at minute 7:35 in the linked video

Administrator and Teaching Resources

• Sophia Press Teachers: Responding to Transgender Ideology has a wide variety of resources that include short videos on “How to Answer Tough Questions” and lesson plans for grades K-12. They also have other helpful resources such as talking points and what the culture says vs. the truth of today’s circumstances.
• Catholic School Playbook, a project of the Ortner Family Foundation, helps schools adopt best practices to improve in all areas. Their resources include a job bank, a parent quiz, interviews with a multitude of Catholic school leaders, a blog, and much more!
  • “Solving the Unseen Crisis in Catholic Schools: 9 Steps to Free Students From Progressive Harms” by Kimberly Begg
• Book Looks provides ratings to books so you can find out what objectionable content may be in your children’s books before they do.
• Ascension Press is an organization that presents the truth and beauty of the Catholic Faith as the path to a fulfilled life and authentic happiness. They share valuable resources, create powerful media, and build communities to answer the longings of the human heart with the transformative power of the Gospel.
  • Theology of the Body for Teens: Middle School Edition
• Endow, seeks to educate women toward a more profound understanding of their God-given dignity through study in small group communities of faith and friendship. They have study guides available for youth in middle and high school.
  • Study Guide for Youth
• The Religious Freedom Institute Crisis Toolkit offers practical guidance to help institutions prepare for, mitigate, and respond to crises while remaining faithful to their core convictions, identity, and mission.
• T² Tough Topics is an educational tool for any parent, youth minister, director religious education, or other adult who wants to provide youth or adults (13+ years old) with knowledge of complicated cultural issues, like gender identity, and practice in challenging conversations
• Parents Defending Education provides an information page on “What Parents Need to Know” which includes resources from questions to ask a school your school to state-by-state complaints
• The Institute for Catholic Liberal Education provides a National Catholic Teaching credential. Learn more here. 
• RuahWoods, a Theology of the Body education center that develops age-appropriate curriculum promoting a Catholic vision of the person (and implicitly countering gender ideology) for educators and parents.  High school resources also can be used for teacher formation. All resources available online.
  • Dr. Sodergren’s Introduction to Theology of the Body: A Collection of Articles
  • Standards for Christian Anthropology, a set of standards (broad statements used to focus and guide curriculum) based on JPII’s Theology of the Body, sorted by grade level for K-8
  • REVEALED: K-5 Curriculum, with lesson plans, exercise worksheets, and online training/support
  • Grade 9-12 curriculum “Called to Be More,” with 100% of resources online
• TOBET, The Theology of the Body Evangelization Team
  • TOBET’s The Body Matters, a Preschool through 8th Grade Program based on St. John Paul’s Theology of the Body with original, non-consumable classroom set books, Educator Guides, including lesson plans and assessments, Parent Guides, and suggested Hybrid Model of classroom use and use at home so parents learn TOB as well.
  • In Production: This is My BODY: The Body Matters for High School. Having laid down a robust anthropological foundation in their PK-8 TOB program, TOBET is now working to produce formational resources that will directly address the common cultural issues facing high schoolers. Subscribe to their newsletter for updates on this project.