WP LOHUD.COM MONDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2022 11A For transgender Catholics across the United States, retaining their faith can entail complex calculations. They face rebukes from some fellow Catholics, in- cluding many bishops, yet full ac- ceptance in some premises of the church. A small but growing number of par- ishes have formed LGBTQ support groups and welcome transgender peo- ple. Yet within the past two years, at least six Catholic dioceses have issued guide- lines targeting trans people with restric- tions and refusing to recognize their gender identity. of our bishops are anti-sci- ence.
They are cold and said Sister Luisa Derouen, a retired nun who has ministered to trans people. respect people and deny their exis- tence at the same The latest policy targeting trans Catholics was issued by the Archdio- cese of Milwaukee in January. It bars church personnel from using trans peo- pronouns their gender identity. Objecting to trans-supportive der the policy stipulates in- teractions and policies, parishes, or- ganizations, and institutions are to rec- ognize only a biological Among other measures, it says par- ishes, schools and other Catholic or- ganizations in the archdiocese must re- quire people to use bathrooms associat- ed with their birth gender and adhere to dress codes on the same basis. A broader policy issued in July by the Diocese of Marquette, which encom- passes Upper Peninsula, said pastors should deny trans, gay and nonbinary Catholics the sacraments such as baptism and Communion less the person has It was signed by Bishop John Doer- But in some parishes around the country, a more welcoming face of the church is on display.
Just a few weeks before the Mar- quette policy emerged, the Church of Our Lady of Grace in Hoboken, New Jer- sey, celebrated its annual Pride Mass in support of the LGBTQ community. Delivering part of the homily at the invitation of the priest, Alexander San- tora, was Christine Zuba, a transgender woman from New Jersey. are not disordered, confused or a Zuba said, sharing with other wor- shippers the decades-long journey that led her to come out six years earlier at age 58. are not trying to defy God, nor to play God. staying visible, not only outside these walls but inside our churches, we change hearts and minds, one person at a she said.
in a while we may get thrown out, but if that happens, not going away. coming right back Santora, a priest for 40 years, said the other worshippers rose and applauded. church was opened in Santora said. wanted Christine to be on that A lifelong Catholic, Zuba knew from age 4 that she was When she came out decades later, she was grateful that a nearby parish, Saints Pe- ter and Paul in Turnersville, New Jersey, welcomed her. She serves there as a eu- charistic minister.
Yet she knows that much of the Catholic hierarchy, including the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, rejects the concept of gender transition. bishops and priests un- derstand that when they turn someone away, losing parents, children, groups of friends who say this is not the church we want to belong Zuba said. Lynn Discenza, a 64-year-old trans- gender woman, grew up in a churchgo- ing Italian American family in West Hartford, Connecticut, and gave semi- nary a try before pursuing a career in aerospace design. She considers herself fortunate, after transitioning two years ago, to be part of a welcoming Catholic church in the area Saint Patrick-Saint Anthony Church in Hartford.
She is a co-leader of its LGBTQ min- istry. Particularly moving, Discenza said, was a Nov. 21 observance marking the annual Transgender Day of Remem- brance, which commemorates people killed due to anti-trans violence. She thanked the other worshippers for their support, and they responded with applause. The pastor, Timothy Shreenan, high- lighted the commemoration in the church bulletin.
must always stand up against hatred in all its forms, and not allow oth- fears (or phobias) to be a reason for he wrote. we must continue to learn more about the experience of others and to become more tolerant and accepting of one Transgender Catholics face pushback Some dioceses welcome trans people, others target them David Crary ASSOCIATED PRESS Eli Musselman, left, and his mother, JoEllen Musselman, in the Chapel of St. Joseph at St. University in Philadelphia on Feb. 14.
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64 NewRochelle 23-Feb Inc Phyllis 94 22-Feb McMahon, Funeral Home, Inc. (neeMatala), AnitaC. 95 Yonkers 25-Feb Funeral Home Additional information in display obituaries Obituaries appear in print and online at www.lohud.com/obituaries OBITUARIES AND DEATH NOTICES Name Age Town, State Death Date Arrangements Tracy, a longtime resident, died February 22, 2022 at the age of 94. She was bornMay 4, 1927 inWhite Plains to the lateNicolas and Luisa Colabella. On April 18, 1956, she married her loving hus- band, John who predeceased her on January 7, 2021.
Phyllis and Jack raised 5 loving children: Dorothy of Hartsdale, NY, John (Diane) of Hartsdale, NY, George (Kathy) of St. Augustine, FL andMichael (Erin) of She was predeceased by her son Dennis Tracy. Also surviving her are her grandchildren, Tiffany, Laura (Adam), Thomas, Peter (Amina), Kelly and William, as well as her great Sophia andAndrew. She was predeceased by her granddaughter Tracy.Also predeceasing her are her siblings, Harry, Henry, Klintner andAlbert Phyllis was Co-Owner of the Candlelight Inn for 67 years. She loved playing golf and was amember at Scarsdale Golf Club andMartinDowns Country Club in PalmCity, FL.
She relished in cooking and entertaining. She was a volunteer for years at the Westchester Golf Classic and PGA Opens. She thoroughly enjoyed the role of matriarch to her large family, including her nieces and nephews. She will be greatlymissed by themany whose lives were touched by hers. Visiting hours will be Sunday from 4-8pm at McMahon, Lyon Hartnett Funeral Home in White Plains.
Mass of Christian burial Monday 10:30 am at Sacred Heart Church in Hartsdale. Phyllis Tracy YONKERS Anita C. Waschenko (nee Mata- la) of Yonkers. She waas born to John andMary (Patrick)Mat- ala. She attendedYonkers public schools and grad- uated from Commerce High SChool where she was a member of Artista Society.
She worked for Office of War Informa- tion (OWI) in New York City and Washington D.C. Prior toWWII.After the war she worked for Paramount Pictures in NYC for 19 years. She then worked in the City of Yonkers payrolls for 1 years. Then was hired to the Sheriff Office in White there for 26 years until retire- ment in Dec 1992. ShemarriedHarryWaschenko on July 14,1951.
They were blessed to have 53 years together until his passing on January 14, 2004. She was a lifetime member of St.Michael’s Ukrainian Catholic Church. She bowled CYO and Post Office Bowling teams and belonged to the Golden Agers Club from the church. She was a crossword puzzle and SUDOKU fanatic plus an avidMystery Novel reader. In lieu of flowers please make donations in her name to ST.
Michaels or Cure CMD 321 Carson St Lakewood CA 90712 http://curecmd.org/ Anita was predeceased in death by her sister Beatrice Matala. Visiting hours will be atWhalen Ball Funeral Home on Monday service will be held in the funeral home onTuesdayMarch 1st at 10am.Entombment will follow at Mt. Hope Cemetery. Whalen Ball Funeral Home 168 Park Ave. Yonkers, N.Y.
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