USCCB Secretary Claims Transgender Equality Is “Doing Great Damage to Society”
Archbishop Paul Coakley of Oklahoma City
A top U.S. archbishop gave a speech in which he suggested the devil was behind the LGBTQ+ movement, claiming in particular that “the trans movement is doing great damage to society.”
Archbishop Paul Coakley of Oklahoma City made his comments while addressing a Napa Institute-sponsored “Catholic CEO men’s group” in late November. The Napa Institute is an organization of wealthy Catholics pushing a far right wing agenda for which Coakley serves as ecclesiastical adviser. According to John Gehring’s report on the meeting for
the National Catholic Reporter:
“Before delivering his 45-minute remarks, titled ‘Transgenderism and the Eclipse of Truth,’ Coakley had opened a bottle of Trinitas sparkling wine from [Napa Institute founder Tim] Busch’s winery with a sword.
“‘We see the plague of relativism in nearly every aspect of life,’ the archbishop said. ‘In politics, we speak of alternative facts, in education this emphasis on equally valid perspectives, and sadly sometimes even in the church with its push to change her moral teaching, especially her sexual ethic. There is no starker proof that we live in a culture where experience and a desire eclipse the truth than the transgender movement.'”
Coakley, who was recently elected as Secretary for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), as well as the Chairman for their Committee on Priorities and Plans, decried the standard list of “sexual revolution” ills cited by conservative bishops, like birth control and abortion rights, which he claimed allowed the LGBTQ+ movement to grow. In particular, he lamented the American Psychiatric Association’s 1973 decision to delist homosexuality as a mental illness and instead make “sexual orientation into an individual’s choice based solely on desire.” The archbishop continued:
“‘Gender is now determined simply by how one feels and how one identifies,’ he continued. ‘In order to avoid being labeled transphobic, these feelings must be accepted as the true indicators of gender and these feelings must be supported even to the point of inalterable gender affirmation surgeries. … Nonbinary identities have mushroomed and their spread has gone mainstream. This transgender ideology, this transgender philosophy, is based on a false and defective and totally inadequate anthropology.'”
The archbishop seemingly defended conversion therapy, which has been debunked and labeled a harmful practice by the psychological community, calling opposition to it “well-intentioned madness.” He criticized supporting transgender children and allowing trans athletes to participate in sports according to their gender. He claimed the church was threatened by non-discrimination protections for LGBTQ+ people, and made the false claim that healthcare providers would be forced to provide gender-affirming surgeries. Coakley concluded:
“‘In the face of all these dangers from the trans movement, we are called to love and accompany every person struggling with gender dysphoria, especially because they are typically in immense pain,’ the archbishop said.
“But he ended with a stark observation. ‘If the devil can confuse society about sex and gender, he obscures our understanding of God’s plan for humanity at its very roots.'”
Marianne Duddy-Burke, executive director of DignityUSA, told NCR the archbishop had engaged in “shameful pandering” and said church leaders “helping to make transgender and nonbinary people the target of elevated discrimination, social scorn and even violence is sin.” The report highlighted DignityUSA’s new campaign, “Beloved by God: A Catholic Commitment to Trans-Affirmation” that pushes back against the bishops’ anti-transgender initiatives. New Ways Ministry is a co-sponsor of this Dignity campaign.
Archbishop Coakley’s strident opposition to transgender people being able to live openly and safely is not surprising. In his previous USCCB roles, he joined fellow bishops in opposing the Equality Act and President Biden’s efforts to implement LGBTQ+ non-discrimination protections. During the Trump administration, he applauded the president’s rules allowing social service agencies and homeless shelters to discriminate against LGBTQ+ people.
Yet, even with such a record, the archbishop’s latest comments at a Napa Institute event hit a new and dangerous low. Comparing transgender equality to something demonic is not only theologically wrong, but extremely harmful. Catholic LGBTQ+ advocates have pointed out that such charged rhetoric contributes to anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination and violence, like the recent mass shooting at Club Q which killed five people in Colorado Springs. It is plainly irresponsible for bishops to use such “demonic” rhetoric at any time, but to do so soon after a dramatic violent attack shows a disturbing lack of awareness of LGBTQ+ issues.
—Robert Shine (he/him), New Ways Ministry, December 14, 2022
Club Q, 2 transgender people killed amongst 5 who died, and 25 people injured – are they not all God’s children? This is especially poignant since in Leicester UK, we had a LGBT mass on 19th November 2022.
Horrifying. Dealing with the USCCB is like playing whack-a-mole. The persistent anti-LGBTQ hatefulness is dispiriting in the midst of violence that would make Jesus weep. Thank you for your continued witness. I wonder how Archbishop Coakley reads the parable of the Good Samaritan.
Thanks for your fortitude in the persecution of the Coakleys of the Catholic world, New Ways.
USCCB Secretary Claims Transgender Equality Is “Doing Great Damage to Society”
Dear Bob, after reading this morning’s Blog, I reflected on this question. What is the significance of these strident oppositions by members of the USCCB? I thought beyond the important immediate dangers that you discerningly summarized in your final paragraph to the overall long-term harm that they could cause. My thoughts came to rest at the harm such voices could cause to the outcome of the Synod on synodality.
He and the bishops who voted for him will be accountable for the violence that these remarks incite and support.
I ask the archbishop to let me know where in Christ’s writings did He discuss transgender status among His followers? This is opposed to his frequent discussions about the call to care for those who hungry or are poor? Perhaps in Oklahoma this has been solved so the clerics only have to worry about threats, that really aren’t. I hear a harsh bell being rung by the gentleman in a red hat.
When the Bishop moves from religion to politics and social engineering in his pastoral actions, he mis-speaks, and is no longer covered by the “pastor protections” provided by law to religion, since he does not speak of religious matters. Nor is the Bishop covered by the tax protections and exemptions afforded by our free society to true practitioners of religion, when they stray into matters of which they have no understanding or responsibility, such as psychiatry. Pandering to rich ultraconservative Catholics who mistakenly believe they have the right to dictate and impose their values on others is never the mission of the true Church. The Bishop needs to revisit his job description!
The Archbishop is here engaged in a Contemporary “Blessed Rage For Order”. Through him, ‘The Hierarchy’ is summoning “all Catholics” TO AN ORDER that “we, the Church’s Teachers and Our Predecessors” have settled upon centuries upon centuries ago and proclaimed forever more to uphold. These have been carved in “the stone of Natural Law” (our version). The Archbishop really is afraid of loosing his clout. His version of “the Church’s Teaching” exists to sustain his authority and power – not Christ’s teaching. So, better for him to rave to the rich.
Actually New Ways Ministry does more damage to the teaching Church’s reputation through its timely reports. They lead some to critical thinking. Bet that through New Ways some have decided to say adieu to the masochistic “drip by drip” by taking a breath and leaving the tomb for awhile.