Widening the Bridge: The Movement for Trans Inclusion and Affirmation in the Roman Catholic Church

This paper traces the movement for trans affirmation and pastoral care in the Roman Catholic Church. It begins with a review of current church policies, which most often reject trans experiences and scientific research in favor of rigid complementarian ideologies. Then, it highlights luminaries such as Mother Nancy Ledins, the first Roman Catholic priest to come out as a trans woman, Sr. Luisa Derouen, a Dominican Sister of Peace who has ministered to the trans community, and Kori Pacyniak, a scholar and trans, non-binary member of the Women Priests Movement. Third, it examines current trends in LGBTQ Catholic groups such as DignityUSA, New Ways Ministry, and Fortunate Families. How have these organizations’ advocacy grown to include trans people? The paper concludes with a brief reflection on the lessons that the movement for trans affirmation and inclusion can offer for the church’s relationship to other marginalized communities.