Catholic Deacon Pens Inspiring Letter On Parenting Transgender Children

Antonia Blumberg

For parents struggling with how to react when their child comes out as transgender, Catholic Deacon Ray Dever has three words of advice: Love your children.

In a touching blog published on the LGBT Catholic site, New Ways Ministry, Dever described his own experience having a child reveal her transgender identity while studying at Georgetown University. This happened shortly after Pope Francis made the groundbreaking remark "Who am I to judge?" in regards to the LGBT community and plunged his family "into all the questions and issues that Catholic families with LGBTQ children face."

Suddenly the enduring notion of "the Catholic family" -- discussed at length at the Vatican's October Synod on the Family -- took on a new meaning for the deacon. But for Dever, there was never a question of whether he would continue loving and cherishing his daughter, even as the path forward offered plenty of challenges.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/01/06/deacon-ray-dever-transgender-child_n_6418970.html?utm_hp_ref=religion