In a recently revealed document, the diocese of Marquette, Michigan is ordering parishes to exclude transgender people and those in same-sex relationships from receiving most of the church’s sacraments. This is the most discriminatory public statement we’ve seen from a diocese yet. Such hateful, exclusionary, and egregious statements are dangerous because they come under the guise of “pastoral care.” But its real impact is stripping LGBTQ+ people from any role in the church other than penitent. Such harmful policies shame LGBTQ+ Catholics into despair and possible suicide. It’s also likely to force more people out of the church.
