It’s been a year since, after much discernment around the Parish, St. Margaret of Scotland became proud signers of the Tyler Clementi Foundation statement “God is on Your Side: A Statement from Catholic Bishops on Protecting LGBT Youth”.  This statement, signed by over a dozen bishops and hundreds of Catholic parishes, orders, organizations, and schools, reads:

As Catholic Bishops in the United States, we join with the Tyler Clementi Foundation in standing up for at-risk LGBT youth in our country.  As we see in the Gospels, Jesus Christ taught love, mercy, and welcome for all people, especially those who felt persecuted or marginalized in any way; and the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that LGBT people are to be treated with “respect, compassion, and sensitivity.”  All people of goodwill should help, support, and defend LGBT youth; who attempt suicide at much higher rates than their straight counterparts; who are often homeless because of families who reject them; who are rejected, bullied, or harassed; and who are the targets of violence at alarming rates.  The Catholic Church values the God-given dignity of all human life and we take this opportunity to say to our LGBT friends, especially young people, that we stand with you and oppose any form of violence, bullying, or harassment directed at you.  Most of all, know that God created you, God loves you and God is on your side.

Joining onto this effort reinforces that St. Margaret of Scotland is a welcome place for all and gives our young people more faith and hope in the Church.  For more information about this effort, go to tylerclementi.org/statement-from-catholic-bishops.