Bishop of Nottingham prohibits schools in his diocese from celebrating Gay Pride Month

The celebration of the so-called homosexual "Pride Month" has been prohibited in all Catholic schools in the English diocese of Nottingham (United Kingdom) under new guidelines that also reject the promotion of gender ideology.

The diocese asks teachers not to celebrate homosexuality in June, the month in which the Church traditionally honors the Sacred Heart of Jesus, because "we cannot celebrate lifestyles that are incompatible with the teaching of the Church".

"In short, it is not appropriate for our schools to celebrate Pride because we cannot support the entire agenda," says a new 40-page document titled "Precious in My Sight . "

«Approving only part of it could be considered dishonest and could lead to confusion. We must, instead, seek to articulate those values and principles with which we can agree, and affirm Catholic teaching in a different, distinct and pastorally positive way.

The guidelines also prohibit children who want to change gender from insisting on using their preferred pronouns. It insists on recording the names and biological sex at birth of children who self-identify as the opposite sex and denies them their preferred choice of uniform, access to changing rooms, showers and toilets used by the opposite sex.

The guidelines also prohibit the participation of biological males, particularly in girls' sports competitions.

The text is supported by legal advice and accurately reflects available law and national government guidance.

In his foreword, Bishop Patrick McKinney of Nottingham said the guidelines draw heavily on "Intricately Woven by the Lord," a pastoral reflection on gender published by the bishops of England and Wales last month.

However, it goes much further than the bishops' document, because it "seeks to offer more pastoral and practical support and guidance for schools", a point on which the previous statement was completely silent. Bishop McKinney explains:

«Accompanying students who question their gender is a complex but essential pastoral duty to which the schools of our diocese pay close attention. However, I am aware that directors and staff involved in this important pastoral care sometimes feel helpless and without sufficient guidance on the teaching and response of the Catholic Church.

I hope that this document will better support those involved 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."

The diocese of Nottingham covers almost all of Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire, as well as Lincolnshire, Leicestershire and Rutland.

There are 84 Catholic schools in the diocese, two of which are independent, but the others are organized into three multi-academy foundations.

Those in Nottingham and Lincolnshire belong to the Our Lady of Lourdes Multidisciplinary Academies Foundation, in Derbyshire they are grouped in the St Ralph Sherwin Multidisciplinary Academies Foundation, while those in Leicestershire and Rutland are in the St Thomas Multidisciplinary Academies Foundation of Aquinas.