A new policy at Catholic schools in Worcester, Massachusetts, will prohibit LGBTQ+ students from expressing themselves.
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Worcester’s new policy goes into effect at the start of the new school year.
The policy requires students “to conduct themselves at school in a manner consistent with their biological sex.” Students also “may not advocate, celebrate, or express same-sex attraction in such a way as to cause confusion or distraction in the context of Catholic school classes, activities, or events.”
Bishop Robert McManus approved the policy, called “Catholic Education and the Human Person,” in late June, but it was not announced until this week. It affects students at 21 schools.
“They issued a policy from the diocese to all of the schools to be able to have some consistency,” said Raymond Delisle, chancellor and director of communications for the diocese.
The policy cites canon law of the Catholic Church and points made by Pope Francis.
“It’s not citing specific feelings or issues by an individual bishop or an individual person, but really citing and basing it all on what the church has been teaching all along,” Delisle said.
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