Eight Catholic colleges in the U.S. have hosted or will be hosting "lavender graduations" to honour students with same-sex attraction and those who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer (LGBTQ).
These are the College of St. Rose, DePaul University, Georgetown University, Loyola Marymount University, St. Mary's College of California, Santa Clara University, Seattle University and the University of San Francisco, according to The Cardinal Newman Society.
The Society noted that while these ceremonies serve as compassionate gesture, they "reinforce harmful ideologies about sexuality and gender that contradict Catholic teaching and have been deplored by Pope Francis."
"They potentially lead students into sinful activity and undermine a Catholic college's claim to teach the truths of the Catholic faith," it said.
It said the Catholic Church is clear that while sexual attractions to people of the same sex is not itself a sin, these are "objectively disordered."
According to the Vatican, same-sex attraction "is a more or less strong tendency ordered toward an intrinsic moral evil; and thus the inclination itself must be seen as an objective disorder."
"Therefore, special concern and pastoral attention should be directed toward those who have this condition, lest they be led to believe that the living out of this orientation in homosexual activity is a morally acceptable option. It is not," it added.
In the 2006 document "Ministry to Persons with Homosexual Inclinations," U.S. bishops said these persons must be guided by the Church by teaching sexuality, warning that "those carrying out the ministry of the Church not use their position of leadership to advocate positions or behaviours not in keeping with the teachings of the Church."
The Society said while none of the eight lavender graduations explicitly endorse sinful behaviour, the language used in descriptions "clearly celebrates disordered attractions and lifestyles."
The University of San Francisco will host the lavender graduation on May 18 to "[c]elebrate the achievements of students who promote and exemplify leadership within the queer community" and "to promote excellence among the LGBTQ and Ally community and recognize the achievements of its diverse members."
