With the “Decree on the Use of Gender-Fair Language ,” the Archdiocese of Freiburg has permitted the use of the gender star in certain ecclesiastical areas.
Accordingly, church employees should generally avoid using the gender star, the “I” symbol, or slashes in texts, emails, and cover letters. Instead, feminine and masculine forms of words should be used side by side, with the feminine form preceding the masculine (e.g., “Mitarbeiterinnen und Mitarbeiter”).
A significant change from the previous regulation from 2018 is that the gender star is now officially permitted in certain pastoral areas. This expansion applies to “adult pastoral services with a particular focus on gender identity or gender diversity,” university pastoral services, and youth pastoral services. In these areas, the gender star may be used “in the interest of differentiated target group communication.”
The Catholic Church rejects gender ideology because it separates biological sex from social gender identity, claiming that the latter is purely cultural and subjective. This relativizes the objective reality of human nature by making gender a freely selectable category independent of biological factors.
“Language is an important means of expressing our thoughts and reflects our interests and our consciousness,” the decree’s introduction stated. Therefore, “the goal of equality between women and men must also be expressed through linguistic equality between the sexes.”
The decree, signed by Vicar General Christoph Neubrand, applies to all offices of the Archdiocese of Freiburg and the parishes. The only exception is the area of ecclesiastical legislation.
Continue reading at Catholic News Agency