Without Exception Newsletter

• The Catholic Educational Leadership Program at the University of San Francisco is hosting a panel to support school leaders and educators who are challenged by diocesan policies and guidelines on LGBTQ+ issues. The event takes place on Saturday, November 4 at 2:00 PM Pacific Time. The panelists are Jeannie Ray-Timoney, former superintendent of Catholic schools in Portland, OR; Ish Ruiz, Post-Doctoral Fellow of Catholic Studies at Emory University; and Tom McKenney, President of Nativity School of Worcester, MA. As this is both a sensitive and targeted issue in our community at this time, participation is by invitation and registration only. To register for the panel event please click HERE by November 1 and note that you are connected to Without Exception. All registrants will be sent a Zoom registration on November 3.

• New policies have emerged in the dioceses of Davenport, IA and Tulsa, OK. The guidelines issued by the Diocese of Davenport are a milestone. This is what guidance can look like when these matters are approached with a pastoral heart. We are instructed to honor the sanctity of Catholic teaching, but also care for the mental health and spiritual wellbeing of those entrusted to our care.

• Dr. James Brush, a child and adolescent psychologist certified by the American Academy of Professional Psychology, gave me this two-page statement on the costs of requiring schools to out LGBTQ+ children to their parents. While responding directly to a question about the Cleveland policy, Dr. Brush’s insights are essential for those of us who minister to LGBTQ+ young persons.

• The Catholic School Matters podcast continues its five-part series on conflicts in Catholic school leadership. This continues to be important listening for school leaders.

Brooks, David. How to Know a Person: The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen. Random House, 2023.

Dever, Raymond. “Iowa diocese spoke with LGBTQ families like mine to form ‘compassionate’ school policy.” Outreach, October 25, 2023.

Fagnant, Nick. “Trusting LGBTQ+ Students.” Commonweal, October 22, 2023.

Galvan, Manuel and Dylan Selterman, hosts. “Helping Young People Who Experience Gender Dysphoria with Dr. Laura Edwards-Leeper.” A Bit More Complicated [podcast], October 18, 2023.

Goldstein, Dawn Eden. “Blessings undisguised: Debunking disinfo on Francis and gay unions.” Where Peter Is, October 8, 2023.

Mallory, Christie and Elana Redfield. The Impact of 2023 Legislation on Transgender Youth. The Williams Institute, UCLA School of Law, October 2023.

McNichols, William Hart. “William Hart McNichols: How the ‘Dear Alana’ podcast reminded me of my own conversion therapy.” Outreach, October 18, 2023.

Nichols, Julie. “Admitting I Was Wrong Saved Lives; A Call to Conservative Ministers and Laity.” Patheos, October 9, 2023.

Palmieri, David. “Synodal documents reveal a shift in how the church describes LGBTQ people.” Outreach, October 7, 2023.

Sadusky, Julia. Start Talking to Your Kids About Sex: A Practical Guide for Catholics. Ave Maria Press, 2023.

Scott, Katie Collins. “New Iowa guidelines praised as a 'milestone' by LGBTQ Catholics and advocates.” National Catholic Reporter, October 7, 2023.

Sellers, Kathleen M. Vatican Statement on Gender Theory in Education: Creating Competing Interests in Catholic Schools. Journal of Cases in Educational Leadership, Vol. 26, Is. 2, 2023.

Soros, Jenn and Karla Reese, hosts. “A Story of Transition.” OT After Dark [podcast], January 1, 2021.

• New Ways Ministry is sponsoring a three-day retreat with Fr. James Alison in Racine, Wisconsin from Friday, February 16 to Sunday, February 18, 2024. The retreat is for LGBTQ+ people, family, friends, and pastoral ministers. More information is available here.

• To coincide with the total solar eclipse in April, Saint Christopher Journeys and Still Point Theatre Collective are hosting a conference from April 6–8 on Science, Art, and Faith Aligning. There will be a breakout session on Supporting Transgender Youth. The conference takes place at Saint Mary of the Woods College in Indiana.

• The LGBTQ+ Initiative of the Marianist Social Justice Collaborative will host a summer conference from Thursday June 27 to Sunday, June 30, 2024 at the Bergamo Center in Dayton, OH. “Imago Dei: Embracing the Dignity of LGBTQ+ Persons” aims to celebrate the 50th anniversary of a 1974 groundbreaking conference centered on LGBTQ+ inclusion and ministry which was held in Dayton at the Bergamo Center. The conference hopes to honor those who foresaw the importance of developing pastoral care and outreach, and to envision how we can continue to respond to the needs of the LGBTQ+ community within our Church and world. More information is available here.