“Our identity is in God not our sexual preferences” says Archbishop

By Kaelanne Jordan

Email: mediarelations.camsel@catholictt.org

As the LGBT+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender) communities around the world declare June as Pride Month, Archbishop Jason Gordon has responded to the question of how the Catholic Church is creating safe spaces for this community.

During an Ask the Archbishop live chat on Instagram June 23, Archbishop Gordon outlined that the discussion around pride is centred around two aspects. It is a social justice issue in that no-one should be discriminated against because they are gay, and on the other hand, a gender ideology belief.

“So, on the social justice side, we have to 100 per cent work towards an inclusive world where everyone is a child of God and where every child of God has a space, a place, and an identity, and is safe, and is being kept safe,” the Archbishop explained.

He continued, “On the other hand, pride brings with it what I will call gender ideology and the multiple gender theory. And that’s a little more complicated.”

God created everyone either male or female. Chromosomes don’t change even if one decides to “add or subtract” body parts.

“So, the notion of multiple genders is a more modern notion that comes from a philosophy that is not in keeping with our understanding on anthropology. You are not defined by your desire which is what gender ideology is saying….”

The core identity of the Christian has to be as a child of God. The Archbishop warns, when one makes their desire their primary identity, they are replacing what is substantial—Christ.

“And you see that we start with LGBT and now we have another set of letters,” he added.

Archbishop Gordon underscored while the Church continues to work towards the whole protection of the LGBT community, there exists fundamental differences in the philosophy and anthropology undergirding the pride movement and the Catholic Church.