June 25: Gender Ideology

Pray 

Pray that Catholics and elected leaders work to combat gender ideology in our society. 

Reflect 

As the Committee for Religious Liberty’s 2025 Annual Report stated, “gender ideology has corroded religious liberty in recent years.” However, more recently, gender ideology has suffered significant setbacks, such as the decision in the Skrmetti case and the result of the 2024 presidential election. In 2026, the Supreme Court will decide three cases that could indicate further defeat for gender ideology. The consolidated cases of Little v. Hecox and West Virginia v. B.P.J. present to the Court the question of whether states can continue to reserve women’s sports to women. A judgment in favor of the states would help to arrest the progress of the movement to insinuate gender ideology in law and thus reduce the likelihood of scenarios in which religious organizations must defend their recognition of sexual difference. It may also answer whether Title IX can continue to be used to impose gender ideology on religious organizations. The case of Chiles v. Salazar will decide whether counselors have a First Amendment right to engage in speech with their minor clients that respects Church teaching in the area of human sexuality.   

Act 

While legal actions might be helpful in pushing back gender ideology, it is crucial that Christians evangelize the culture. The USCCB’s “Love Means More” initiative provides resources for talking through difficult issues related to sexuality. Love Means More aims to help anyone, Catholics and non-Catholics, think more clearly about the complex web of issues surrounding what it means to love.