UPDATE 2/20 – THE START OF “HATE WEEK”
The infamous culture war raged in the Kansas Statehouse this past week.
The Catholic Church in Kansas didn’t start the culture war, but we were compelled to enter the battle in defense of families, children and the basic dignity of the human person. Anything else would be an abdication of our responsibilities.
Catholic Church policy and cultural opponents flippantly use the term “hate” to describe us and our legislative positions. Members of the secular news media, by and large, are eager accomplices to this manipulation. One objective of this strategy is intimidation of the so-called “haters” (The Catholic Bishops and faithful Catholics) and an end to any reasonable discussions.
The Kansas Catholic Conference will resist this blatant coercion, seeking to respond as best we can, proclaiming the truth with love.
Here is some of what happened. Regrettably, you probably won’t hear much about or see this in the news media. But it’s real.
A distressed mother from Eudora, Kansas testified this past week about how a minor female was coerced into sleeping in the same bed as a boy identifying as a girl on an out-of-state field trip. (see minute 56:17)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWDocux_Nds
An elite NCAA simmer came to Kansas to testify in person about being assigned to use a locker room where a male swimmer identifying as a female exposed his genitalia while dressing.
These and other disturbing incidents help reveal the systemic attack on the dignity of the human person being waged in our culture—and at the Kansas Statehouse.
It is first and foremost a spiritual battle for the protection of families and children. We are defenders of authentic science and biology—natural law–that reveals the truth of the human person. We do not hate.
We stand in support of legislation that protects our children and protects our God given identity of male and female- made in His image (Gen 1:27)
Our policy positions are not attacks on men and women experiencing a same-sex attraction or other sexual identities. Despite unjust and unsubstantiated attempts painting us as aggressors, you have not seen–nor will you see—personal attacks on individuals. We pray for, and yes we love, all people.
There were three bills we have been supporting and working this past
week…
HB 2238 – CREATING FAIRNESS IN WOMEN’S SPORTS ACT
It is heartbreaking to see sexual identity struggles. However, trying to push false identities onto others is not healthy, and in this case it is not safe for our children. HB 2238 is important for all Kansas female athletes. This bill will protect girls and women from competing against or playing with biological males who identify as females in all girls’ sports.
Why is this important? First, for the safety of the female athletes. God created males and females equal but different. Physical strength is more prominent in males. This is basic common sense. Female athletes can more easily be injured when playing against males due to the natural size, build and physical strength that males possess over females.
Another safety issue is that of protecting the female athletes from unwanted sexual advances and harassment. If a biological male who identifies as a female can play and compete with biological female athletes, then he most likely has permission to share a locker room and restroom with the female athletes as well. (A great example of this is NCAA swimmers Riley Gaines and Lia Thomas. Which you can hear more about below and in the hearing for SB 180) Secondly, there is an issue of fairness and justice at stake for female athletes. If a biological male who identifies as a female is competing against a female athlete, who is typically the bigger and better athlete? Biological males would naturally receive more playing time than the female athlete and win awards and scholarships that would rightly belong to the female athlete. Female athletes and sports could slowly and surely be erased.
This bill was heard in the House Education committee. We invite you to watch a video of the “Save Girls Sports” hearing on the YouTube link:
SB 233 – CREATING A CIVIL CAUSE OF ACTION AGAINST A PHYSICIAN WHO PERFORMS CHILDHOOD GENDER REASSIGNMENT SERVICE
As Christians we find our identity in God our creator- through Sacred Scripture and tradition—as well as the reality of science and biology. Separating one’s biological sex from one’s gender creates a situation where the person is in collision with themselves. Allowing a person, especially a child, to participate in gender reassignment surgery or gender altering medication, would be a grave disservice to them. This is why the Kansas Catholic Conference stands in support of SB 233. We must protect our children.
During the hearing for this bill, two brave young females told their story of how they transitioned as minors to become male, only to transition back to their biological sex of female.
Their stories and experiences are heartbreaking, emotional, and an eye-opener to what is happening to our youth. To watch the hearing and learn more, go to:
SB 180 – ESTABLISHING A WOMEN’S BILL OF RIGHTS TO PROVIDE A MEANING OF BIOLOGICAL SEX FOR PURPOSE OF STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION
We are living in a world where it is now necessary to legally define what is a female and a male. Science and basic biology already point the way to this truth. Sacred Scripture tells us that “God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” (Gen. 1: 27). Unfortunately, many have fallen from this God given truth.
In the hearing for SB 180 we heard directly from former NCAA swimmer, Riley Gaines and the controversy that arose from competing against Lia Thomas- a biological male who now identifies as a female.
Ms. Riley Gaines, a women swimmer at the heart of this controversy, testified about her harrowing experience. She also shared with the committee of how her and other female swimmers were assigned to share the same locker room as Thomas, without their consent, where Thomas revealed his genitalia.
To watch the hearing and hear in detail Riley Gaines’ story, click on the link below.