A group of Catholic, U.S. bishops have signed a statement released by the Tyler Clementi Foundation supporting LGBTQ youth. “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,” reads the statement. Among those that signed the statement are ten bishops, a cardinal, and an archbishop. The statement includes the message to LGBTQ youth that “God created you, God loves you and God is on your side.” The Tyler Clementi Foundation was started by Jane Clementi, Tyler’s mother, after the Rutgers University student died by suicide in 2010 following an act of online bullying from his roommates. At the time, the Clementis were attending an evangelical Christian church, which they later left because of its conservative views on homosexuality. The statement calls for “all people of goodwill” to support and defend LGBTQ 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 and harassed; and who are the target of violent acts at alarming rates.” Clementi told America Magazine she has “seen firsthand how important it is to have positive messages in religious communities to influence people.” She said she hopes young LGBTQ people would “read this statement and feel supported, know they are not alone and know that there are members of their faith community that support them.” While queer Catholic advocates have welcomed the bishops’ efforts, they’ve also pointed out the small number of American, Catholic bishops have signed the statement so far. They also call out that the statement “doesn’t acknowledge the religious roots of the bullying that LGBTQ kids face—and how the American Catholic church may have actively contributed to these youths’ marginalization” according to a HuffPost article. So far, the statement has been signed by:
- Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, Archdiocese of Newark New Jersey
- Archbishop John C. Wester, Archdiocese of Santa Fe, New Mexico
- Bishop Steven Biegler, Diocese of Cheyenne, Wyoming
- Bishop John P. Dolan, Diocese of San Diego, California
- Bishop Thomas Gumbleton (retired), Archdiocese of Detroit, Michigan
- Bishop Joseph R. Kopacz, Diocese of Jackson, Mississippi
- Bishop Robert McElroy, Diocese of San Diego, California
- Bishop Denis Madden (retired), Archdiocese of Baltimore, Maryland
- Bishop Ricardo Ramirez (retired), Diocese of Las Cruces, New Mexico
- Bishop John Stowe, Diocese of Lexington, Kentucky
- Bishop Anthony B. Taylor, Diocese of Little Rock, Arkansas
- Bishop Edward Weisenburger, Diocese of Tucson, Arizona
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