Catholic Gender Bending

Maybe Hollywood just isn’t making films like The Bells of St. Mary’s anymore but a documentary about transgendered students seems an odd choice for a campus diversion at a Catholic college even if one of the film’s subjects is a regular communicant somewhere else. Perhaps St. Catherine’s just didn’t have the budget for a staging of The Vagina Monologues.

The Minnesota institution aims “to be the world’s pre-eminent Catholic college educating women to lead and influence.” “Throughout the history of the College of St. Catherine, founded by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, we have been dedicated as a campus community to our Roman Catholic heritage and identity,” the CSC web site proclaims. “In light of the rich and diverse history of the Church and the vision of Vatican II, we affirm aspects of that identity that are particularly appropriate to higher education.”

“From the Church’s intellectual tradition, which has equated the search for truth with true liberation, we value an open atmosphere of critical inquiry, cross-cultural studies and interdisciplinary teaching.”

Evidently it was in this connection that the school’s Multicultural & International Programs and Services (MIPS) office screened “Transgeneration—a dramatic year-in-the-life look at four college students transitioning from their birth sex.”

“This film is groundbreaking for its subject matter,” read the one user comment on the Internet Movie Database. “It marks the first time transsexual issues are discussed without jeer or finger pointing in mainstream (as mainstream as Sundance is) media.”

“However, it presents a limited definition of transsexual – someone who plans to or is altering their primary or secondary sex characteristics.” Sundance is the production company run by veteran actor and liberal activist Robert Redford, never known for being particularly stalwart in defense of traditional Catholic teaching, particularly on abortion.

The Sundance website gives us helpful updates on the four Transgeneration students, including Raci, originally Roy. “She is engaged,” the web site informs us. “Her fiance’s name is Nathan and after many months of dating online, he packed his bags and moved from Wisconsin to Los Angeles.”

“Currently, Raci and Nathan are living together.” But they never miss Mass, not that that’s a bad thing but it might be a bit lame as a rationale for including the video chronicle of Raci and company’s “transformation” in a Catholic film festival.

Two days after the Transgeneration premiere, the school screened a film about a pom pom girl who realizes that she is a lesbian. “Coming Out Week celebrations continue with a movie night,” read an announcement on the CSC web site. “But I’m a Cheerleader will be shown in the Jeanne d’Arc Auditorium at 7 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 12.” That may not be what the lady who the hall is named for had in mind for a memorial.

“All are welcome,” the SCC site promises. “Free popcorn and candy.”

“Brought to you by People Respecting Identity Differences and Equality (PRIDE).”

Malcolm A. Kline is the executive director of Accuracy in Academia.