Caribbean bishops issue pastoral letter on sexual and gender identity

The Bishops of the Antilles Episcopal Conference (AEC) have issued a comprehensive pastoral letter on sexual and gender identity, calling on Catholics throughout the Caribbean to respond to contemporary questions about sexuality and gender with what they describe as “truth, dignity, compassion and hope.”

Published on July 26, the Feast of Saints Anne and Joachim, the 23-page document is addressed particularly to parents, educators, catechists and policymakers, whom the bishops say have a critical role in shaping future generations.

The full text of the pastoral letter is available: aecbishops.org/category/pastoral-letters/

Writing as bishops of the English, French and Dutch-speaking Caribbean, they say they are responding to “a sense of deep pastoral responsibility and moral urgency” amid rapid cultural changes.

“The Caribbean has long been a crucible of resilience and creativity. Yet, today, we stand at a crossroads,” the bishops write. “In a world saturated by hyper-sexualisation and rapid cultural shifts, where human identity is increasingly understood as fluid and self-constructed, the foundational truths about the human person are being obscured or even denied.”

Grounded in faith and science

The letter presents what the bishops describe as a theological, scientific and pastoral reflection on human sexuality and gender identity. It draws on Scripture, Catholic teaching, natural law, contemporary biology and the works of theologians and authors including St John Paul II and Abigail Favale.

Central to the document is the Church’s teaching that every human person is created as a unity of body and soul, male or female, in the image of God.

“The human body is not an accessory to identity, but a sacrament of the person,” the bishops state, inviting parents, teachers, religious and civil leaders to promote “a vision of human flourishing that is fully human, fully Christian, and deeply Caribbean.”

The pastoral letter argues that biological sex is an objective reality established at conception and distinguishes between biological sex and what it calls contemporary gender ideology. It maintains that human beings are created male or female and rejects the notion that biological sex exists on a spectrum.

A call for compassion

While firmly presenting Catholic teaching, the bishops repeatedly stress that every person must be treated with dignity and respect.

Addressing those who experience same-sex attraction, the bishops write that such persons “must be treated with respect, sensitivity, and compassion” and, like all Christians, are called to holiness.

The letter also addresses those experiencing gender-related distress. “We must be clear: persons are not ideologies,” the bishops write. “Every individual who experiences gender-related distress must be treated with reverence, compassion, and patience.”

Authentic pastoral care, they add, involves accompanying people “towards truth, healing, and communion with God.” The bishops emphasise that their intention is not to condemn but to accompany.

“We speak not to condemn but to illuminate, not to judge hearts but to form consciences,” they write. “Our duty is to walk with all people, especially the young, the confused, the hurting, offering them accompaniment and clarity rooted in love and ordered towards truth.”

Guidance for Church and society

Beyond outlining Church teaching, the pastoral letter offers practical guidance for Catholic schools, parishes and families.

Among its recommendations, the bishops call on Catholic educators to present Christian anthropology clearly, accompany those struggling with identity with welcome, respect, and understanding, protect children from what they describe as ideological influences, strengthen formation in chastity and vocation, and engage governments in advocating for policies that uphold human dignity and parental rights.

The document also includes pastoral case studies intended to help teachers, catechists and pastoral workers respond compassionately to questions from children and young people about gender identity and sexuality while remaining faithful to Catholic teaching.

‘Truth and love’

In their concluding message, the bishops acknowledge that the issues surrounding sexuality and gender identity have become increasingly prominent across Caribbean societies but insist that the Church must continue speaking with both conviction and compassion.

“We believe that the truth about the human person is not a burden but a liberation,” they write. “We believe that clarity and charity must walk hand in hand.”

They conclude by encouraging Catholics to approach the issue with courage and hope. “His truth is not a weapon to wound but a light to guide,” the bishops write. “Our Caribbean people deserve the truth. Our children deserve clarity. Our Church must not remain silent.”

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