The Basis of Humanity

Last week at work, an excel spreadsheet was sent to staff members and we were asked to “list our pronouns” on the document next to our names.  New email signatures and ID badges are being made and some staff from the DEI committee wanted to encourage all employees to have their “preferred pronouns” included.  (For anyone unfamiliar with this, it involves listing pronouns of how people should refer to you, like “she/her/hers, he/him/his, they/them/theirs or a variety of other options which make absolutely no sense.)  As I scrolled through the spreadsheet, I was shocked by how many people had obliged to the request.  Almost all approximately 40 people in my department had typed in a list of pronouns next to their names.  I could only wonder about the organization’s other 100+ employees and how many of them would be including pronouns on their IDs and email signatures.  What I did know was that I could not support or affirm this practice by participating in it.  I did not submit anything to the spreadsheet and when a follow-up email was sent, I stated that I did not want anything listed.  

In today’s world, this issue is quite prevalent and I knew it was only a matter of time before it would likely come up in this setting.  As Catholics, we cannot support the trend of “identifying  pronouns” and the rise in the gender ideology movement.

A lot of people may say to just give it up and that it’s not a big deal.  Others may think that there’s no harm in something so seemingly insignificant.  Many people have the mindset that going along with it is respectful and the loving, compassionate thing to do because it shows support.  But this is a hill I’m willing to die on.  I disagree with all of these arguments.  As males and females created in the image of God, we do not get to choose pronouns nor do we need to let others know what pronouns people should use to refer to us.  Knowing what words to use when talking about men and women is just a basic part of the English language.  

​God has created us all- as either a man or woman, and this is something that cannot be changed.  We live in a society that reduces gender to feelings and appearances.  We live in a society that rejects truth.  To reject the reality that there are only two genders is to reject truth and God Himself.

In the midst of this insanity and all of the people just going with the flow in order to not be seen as bigoted or hateful, there are some people who truly struggle with accepting who they are.  We need to affirm them in their goodness and see their dignity.  We need to walk with them in their struggle.  When it comes to men who think they are women, women who think they are men, or those who think they are neither, we need to treat them with the same love and compassion that we would anyone else.  However, to love is to want what is best for someone and desiring good for that person.  And this means speaking the truth.  We must be firm in our convictions and not back down.  Our witness on this issue is an opportunity to be Christ to others and share the truth, beauty, and goodness of the human person and who we were created to be.

If you’ve paid any attention to the media recently, whether the sports world or political world, you’ve probably heard about Lia Thomas and Rachel Levine.  Both of these males, now identifying as women, have insulted womanhood by reducing it to surgeries, clothing, and how they think it “feels” to be a woman.  And to be honest, my heart hurts for the people in our country who accept and celebrate this ideology.  It is disheartening that there are so many people who believe that who we are as male and female, and how we are different, doesn’t matter.  However, this simple truth is the basis for humanity.  God created men and women to complement each other and to reflect His love in unique ways.  This can never be changed, no matter what the world thinks.

As our country continues in this direction and we try to navigate this gender and pronoun war, we need to keep our focus on God.  We need to immerse ourselves in His love and the truth of how he created us- male and female, and in His image.  As we continue to encounter people sharing pronouns and asking us to go along with this whole ideology, we must give every person the respect and dignity they deserve, always speaking and acting with love.  However, “we can’t surrender to a lie.” -Chris Stefanick