USA

The Catholic bishops of the United States reiterated on Thursday their support for a bill to protect women’s sports after the measure was not approved by the Senate in a procedure vote this week.

In a statement published by the Episcopal Conference, Bishop Robert Barron and Bishop David O’Connell described the Law on the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports such as “Common sense legislation that would guarantee equity for female athletes”.

The proposed legislation, which was approved by the House of Representatives in January, would have prevented sports programs financed with federal funds under Title IX allowing male students to compete or participate in sports programs for women and girls.

Although most senators supported the legislation with a vote of 51 to 45, the proposal did not receive support from the Democrats and failed to reach the necessary supermayer of three fifths.

In a joint statement, the bishops said: “The teaching of the Catholic Church calls us to defend the equality of dignity between men and women, recognizing that God created us men and women. This legislation would guarantee equal conditions for women and girls to compete on equal terms and security with other women. ”

“An ideological promotion of personal identity, disconnected from biological reality, undermines human dignity and the role that sport plays in true educational training.”

Barron and O’Connell, who preside over the Committee of Laity, marriage, family life and youth and the Catholic Education Committee of the Catholic Bishops of the United States, respectively, expressed their full support for legislation in a carta sent in January to senators urging them to vote in favor of the bill.

After the failed vote, the bishops said: “We reiterate our long data support for this law and encourage athletes from all over the country to continue fighting to defend justice and equality in sports competitions.”

Translated and adapted by the ACI Press team. Originally published in CNA.