Jesse Tyler Ferguson Urges His New Mexico Catholic High School to Let Trans Student Graduate in Dignity

Last week, I posted about Damien Garcia, a trans male student at St. Pius High School in Albuquerque, New Mexico who is being forced to wear a girl's gown to the school's graduation.

Modern Family actor Jesse Tyler Ferguson graduated from the same school, and is getting involved on Garcia's behalf.

Writes Ferguson in a letter to the school posted on Facebook (transcribed from screencap below):

I am writing to ask you to do the right thing and let all your students graduate with dignity. Do not force someone to identify them self  (sic) as someone they are not! Is is as ridiculous as having a priest conduct mass in a nuns habit! Gender identification goes way beyond a check mark on a birth certificate.

I know St. Pius X  has changed a lot since I graduated in '94. I proud of the changes and strides you have made but this is not a time to hold to a rule book. Continue to grow and accept ALL of your students.

A rally is being held this morning at the high school to support Garcia. An online petition has collected more than 24,000 signatures urging St. Pius to reconsider. The school says it will decide later today.

Catholic School Forcing Male Transgender Student to Wear Female Robe at Graduation: VIDEO

An Albuquerque, New Mexico Catholic school is demanding that Damian Garcia, a trans student, wear a girl's gown to graduation. Damian was born Brandi Garcia but identifies as a male, had a name change last year, and is known as Damian to students, teachers, and his parents, but the Superintendent of Saint Pius insists he is a girl and must wear a white robe.

Damian's father is angry about the humiliating treatment, KRQE reports:

“I look at him and I call him my son. That's how he wishes to be acknowledged is as a male,” said father Luis Garcia.

The Saint Pius Superintendent tells KRQE News 13, Saint Pius goes by what the student's birth certificate says if there's any question on what gender-color they wear at graduation.

Says Damian: “I just want to walk in my black robe, nice and proud and have that memory to look back on with my family and friends. I would rather not walk than to embarrass myself by wearing a female robe.”

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

David Bowie's 'The New Day' Clip is Bill Donohue Bait: VIDEO

Marion Cotillard, as a prostitute with stigmata and Gary Oldham as a priest beating a beggar are among the naughty Catholic characters, including a whore-hiring Cardinal and a monk getting flogged, who join David Bowie for a romp in his new video "The Next Day".

Surely Bill Donohue's panties will bunch over this.

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

Catholic School Rejects Newly-Appointed President Over Speculation He's Gay

Regis Catholic Schools in Wisconsin announced on April 4 that its new president would be Tim Nelson, a decision they reportedly revoked last week because of speculation that he's gay.

The Leader Telegram reports:

Regis officials indicated someone had given them information showing that a man's name was listed in parentheses behind Nelson's in the survivor list of his father's obituary 2½ years ago, and they told him that is typically the way a gay partner is listed in an obituary, Nelson said. Nelson said he explained to Konopa that he considered the man his best friend and that the man was close to Nelson's family.

They add:

Nelson...said Friday he was "flabbergasted" when system officials informed him nearly three weeks later they intended to revoke his contract because of concerns about his sexual orientation.

"The whole thing is based on assumptions, innuendo and speculation," an obviously upset Nelson said by telephone from New Mexico, where he has worked as supervising principal of a group of American Indian community schools for the past eight years.

Regis denied the allegations Friday in a statement.

"Regis Catholic Schools denies that any assumptions, insinuations or speculation played a part in its decision to not hire Mr. Nelson," the statement said. "Furthermore, Regis Catholic Schools categorically denies that sexual orientation was a part in its decision. Mr. Nelson's speculation is unfounded and untrue."

The school system has announced his replacement.

Archbishops Call Gay Marriage a 'Serious Injustice', Warn Catholics Against Attending Same-Sex Weddings

Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Subcommittee for the Promotion and Defense of Marriage, published a response on Friday to Rhode Island's passage of marriage equality last week calling it "a serious injustice" and claiming that laws meaning nothing when it comes down to the union's meaning:

"The meaning of marriage cannot be redefined, because its meaning lies in our very nature. Therefore, regardless of what law is enacted, marriage remains the union of one man and one woman – by the very design of nature, it cannot be otherwise. Marriage is the only institution that unites a man and a woman to each other and to any child conceived of their union. While those making great sacrifices to raise their children in less than ideal circumstances need and deserve our love and support, we cannot claim to have a just society if we do not look out for the most vulnerable among us: children. That means preserving in the law the principle that every child deserves a mother and father united in marriage. That means supporting in our institutions and in our culture the true and unique meaning of marriage."

The letter follows one from Rhode Island Archbishop Thomas Tobin, who told Catholics to think twice before attending same-sex weddings:

Our respect and pastoral care, however, does not mean that we are free to endorse or ignore immoral or destructive behavior, whenever or however it occurs. Indeed, as St. Paul urges us, we are required to “speak the truth in love.” (Eph 4:15)

At this moment of cultural change, it is important to affirm the teaching of the Church, based on God’s word, that “homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered,” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, #2357) and always sinful. And because “same-sex marriages” are clearly contrary to God’s plan for the human family, and therefore objectively sinful, Catholics should examine their consciences very carefully before deciding whether or not to endorse same-sex relationships or attend same-sex ceremonies, realizing that to do so might harm their relationship with God and cause significant scandal to others.

Vatican Orders Cardinal O'Brien into Exile Over Gay Admissions

Former Scottish Cardinal Keith O'Brien, the anti-gay crusader who stepped down after being accused of "inappropriate acts" with other priests, and later admitted having a long-term relationship with one of the priests whose accusations led to him getting sacked, is being forced into exile by the Vatican, The Herald reports:

Friends of the cleric have said he has been told by Rome to shelve his plans to retire to a church-owned cottage in East Lothian and instead leave the country.

The Herald understands Cardinal O'Brien was given the news yesterday afternoon, three days after being photographed moving his personal belongings from his official residence in Edinburgh to the residence in Dunbar where he had been spending regular weekends over the past few years.

The parish priest in Dunbar, Canon John Creanor, is understood to have voiced upset at the Vatican's move against his "dear friend".

It is the clearest indication yet of the Vatican's unwillingness to let the matter drift and concern that the Cardinal's admission of gay activity over decades and allegations of abuse towards trainee priests continues to damage the Church.

More here...