In recent years, the transgender agenda has permeated nearly every aspect of culture, including religion.
In February, St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City held a massive funeral for a transgender activist and former sex worker who was an atheist. Attendees wore crop tops, thongs, and fishnet stockings to the funeral for Cecilia Gentili. One speaker mocked St. Cecilia in his remarks, which Townhall covered.
Afterwards, backlash ensued, and the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York clarified that they’d been lied to about the identity of Gentili.
“The Cathedral only knew that family and friends were requesting a funeral Mass for a Catholic, and had no idea our welcome and prayer would be degraded in such a sacrilegious and deceptive way,” the Archdiocese said.
This month, a different denomination came out with stricter guidelines surrounding so-called “transgender” members of the church.
Last week, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, known as the Mormon church, released updated policies surrounding “individuals who identify as transgender,” according to the church’s website.
“Some people feel their inner sense of gender does not align with their biological sex at birth. The Church does not take a position on the causes of these feelings. Some who experience these feelings identify as transgender,” the updated guidance states.
“These individuals often face complex challenges. They – and their family and friends – should be treated with sensitivity, kindness, compassion, and Christlike love…Worthy individuals who do not pursue surgical, medical, or social transition away from their biological sex at birth may enjoy all the privileges of Church membership,” it clarifies, before adding, “Church leaders counsel against pursuing surgical, medical, or social transition away from one’s biological sex at birth…Leaders advise that taking these actions will result in some Church membership restrictions.”
According to several reports, members who transition to live as a different gender cannot stay at youth camps overnight and may only use single-occupancy restrooms at church facilities. A “trusted person” must keep others from entering the restroom when the transgender person is in a restroom that does not align with their biological sex, the Associated Press noted.
Predictably, pro-transgender advocates slammed the new guidance.
Laurie Lee Hall, a “transgender woman” who was reportedly excommunicated in 2017, said that “she” has been participating in a local Morman church in Kentucky that was “welcomed” “her” and allowed “her” to participate in classes and activities with women.
“While I’ve had some separation from the church in terms of my membership and beliefs, I’ve enjoyed at least a social connection with the women at church,” Hall told AP. “Now, none of that is going to be possible.”
“I’d attend church in dress, shoes and makeup and be required to site with a bunch of men wearing suits,” Hall said of the new guidance. “It would put a target on me as someone who is severely off-script.”
“It implies that a trans member is somehow a danger to others,” he said. “It’s dehumanizing and far too toxic to handle for members who are still in the process of reconciling their gender identity with their faith.”