Wednesday 22nd May 2024
PRECIOUS IN MY SIGHT
Bishop issues guide for accompanying students who question their gender.
Bishop Patrick McKinney, today on Wednesday 22nd May 2024, issues a compassionate and practical guide to accompanying students who question their gender, for use in the secondary schools of the Diocese of Nottingham. This diocesan document draws very largely upon ‘Intricately Woven by the Lord’, the most recent pastoral reflection on gender by the Catholic Bishops of England and Wales. It also attempts to offer further pastoral and practical support and guidance for schools in the Diocese of Nottingham.
The document, entitled ‘Precious in my sight’, sets out to present an overview of the Catholic understanding of the human person and also some guidelines for good pastoral accompaniment of students who are questioning their gender. It then outlines a programme of formation in pastoral accompaniment for key staff in the schools of the Diocese of Nottingham, which is being organised by the Diocesan Education Service, as well as highlighting further helpful resources. The document has been produced with the benefit of legal advice, and it accurately reflects the available law and guidance as of April 2024. Given the wider cultural and legal landscape on these issues is rapidly changing, the document will be kept under regular review and updated as needed.
Bishop Patrick said:
“Every person, without exception, is precious in God’s sight and therefore ours. That’s why I have chosen ‘Precious in my sight’ as the title of this document. The phrase is taken from Isaiah 43:4. ‘You are precious in my sight, and honoured and I love you.’
“Accompanying students who question their gender is a complex but essential pastoral duty to which the schools of our diocese are very attentive. However, I am aware that headteachers, and those staff involved in this important pastoral care, at times feel unsupported and without sufficient guidance as to the teaching and response of the Catholic Church. It is my hope that this document will better support those engaged in this important pastoral task and that students will learn that they are deeply loved by the Lord.
“I thank all those involved in the pastoral accompaniment of young people in our schools for their care, discernment, and compassion.”
[ENDS]
NOTES TO EDITORS
For all further enquiries contact the Diocesan Communications Department at communications@dioceseofnottingham.uk. Please note that no further comments will be given.
The Diocese of Nottingham
The Diocese of Nottingham encompasses the counties of Nottinghamshire (excluding Bassetlaw), Derbyshire (excluding Chesterfield), Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, and Rutland.
Bishop Patrick McKinney has been Bishop of Nottingham since 2015.
Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Nottingham
There are 84 Catholic Schools across three Catholic Multi Academy Trusts in the Diocese of Nottingham (excusing two independent Catholic Schools);
Our Lady of Lourdes Multi-Academy Trust (Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire)
St Ralph Sherwin Multi-Academy Trust (Derbyshire)
St Thomas Aquinas Multi-Academy Trust (Leicestershire and Rutland)
The schools and trusts are all overseen by the Nottingham Roman Catholic Diocesan Education Service.
Sources and References
The full text of ‘Precious in my sight’ can be found after 12noon on Wednesday 22nd May 2024 here and at: https://www.dioceseofnottingham.uk/departments/education-service
The full text if ‘Intricately Woven by the Lord’ can be found at: www.cbcew.org.uk/pastoral-reflection-intricately-woven-by-the-lord
