by Mandy Cox
Has the so-called gender ideology movement transitioned into gender idolatry?
The movement to create a separation between the biological reality of our bodies and the subjective experience of our perceived “gender” continues to gain influence and momentum. The insistence that this separation is final and must be accepted seems to leave no room for questions or discussion (see this article) As Catholics it can be difficult to remove ourselves from the rushing waters of this movement long enough to evaluate if this ideology is asserting itself as a new idol.
Who is your God?
Our faith teaches that we are made by God. He made us on purpose and with purpose. St. John Paul II’s Theology of the Body explains with clarity that our bodies do in fact matter. Our bodies communicate with their own language the deeper reality of who we are as persons. Our bodies are not accidents but are truly essential to the nature of what it means to be human. We receive our very being and existence as a gift from a God who loves us. We are not self-creating beings who have authority to determine our own existence. We know this to be true for ourselves and for each person we encounter.
Is it possible that this movement has moved from a mere ideology to an actual idolatry? If so, what is the idol?
The current push by the gender ideology movement is supplanting God in the order of creation with SELF. This movement identifies the person, not God, as the source of personal creation. It elevates sexual desires, experience, attractions, and preconceived ideas about the other gender to the level of metaphysics. Then it asserts these ideas, demanding compliance from others without question.
Religions of the past and present are rightly criticized when they mandated “convert or die,” however is the gender ideology movement taking much of that same approach?
Why the rush?
Human experience has taught that gender stereotypes fail to define what it means to be a man or a woman. Each person has their own experience of their interests, skills, and talents, as well as the challenges that come when these stereotypes fail to align with their own experience. These experiences are not new, but past generations made great strides to say that being a man or a woman is not defined by these societal stereotypes.
The sexual revolution initiated a war between sex and biology. The gender movement has added a new battle against biology itself. The areas where our personal experiences do not align with gender stereotypes serves as proof that our bodies themselves are wrong in this movement. Even more, there is a fury driving the demand that society must align itself to this explanation. The movements of religious zeal share similar determination and demands with this new orthodoxy.
A reasonable response of the faithful.
A reasoned response by Catholics can be the answer. We can recognize that the individual may not relate to the societal stereotypes of their sex, and that this can create feelings of hurt and confusion. But we can take this opportunity to remind individuals that they have a loving Father who created them with great purpose. When we experience these feelings, we can bring them to God, the one who made us, knows us, and loves us. Our role as creature is not to destroy ourselves, but to look to the One who made us and allow Him to reveal our very selves to ourselves.
Here are a few examples of what other dioceses are doing:
A Catechesis on the Human Person and Gender Ideology (arlingtondiocese.org)
Diocese of Lansing Gender Identity Policy: A Briefing by Jenny Ingles | Diocese of Lansing