Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin of the Archdiocese of Newark recently joined several other U.S. Catholic bishops in support of LGBT youth by partnering with the Tyler Clementi Foundation to issue the statement reprinted below.  The Tyler Clementi Foundation welcomes other Catholic institutions to show their support as well.  

To express your interest in having Our Lady of Grace and St. Joseph support this statement, please type your name at the bottom of this page and press "Submit".  Thank you!

To learn more, please visit:  https://tylerclementi.org/catholicbishopsstatement 


God Is On Your Side: A Statement from Catholic Bishops on Protecting LGBT Youth:

"As Catholic Bishops in the United States, we join with the Tyler Clementi Foundation in standing up for at-risk LGBT youth in our country.  

As we see in the Gospels, Jesus Christ taught love, mercy and welcome for all people, especially for those who felt persecuted or marginalized in any way; and the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that LGBT people are to be treated with “respect, compassion and sensitivity.”  

All people of goodwill should help, support, and defend LGBT 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.

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.  

Most of all, know that God created you, God loves you and God is on your side."