Transgender Persons, Pastoral Care and the Catholic Church
The Candler Foundry Course Information
Course Dates: October 10 - 19, 2023
Course Time: Tuesdays - Thursdays 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM EDT (Online)
Course Description
This course will explore ways to offer pastoral care for transgender persons in the Catholic Church.
We will discuss the concept of Catholic anthropology and how it may apply to transgender identities in order to develop a renewed Catholic theological understanding of the human person.
In light of this renewed Catholic theology, participants will also have the opportunity to examine various practices and approaches to pastoral care for those who identify as transgender.
Most importantly, participants will have the opportunity to hear the testimonies of transgender persons in the Church and ask questions about their journey.
Overall, this course will equip participants with theological, practical, and relational skills to engage in this important – yet contentious – ministry with more competence, skill, and vision.
For more information, please email our Coordinator of Courses in the Community, Damellys Sacriste, at candlerfoundry@emory.edu.
Access to Pitts Digital Essentials
Explore your theological questions
As a registered participant in the Courses in the Community program, you get 1 year of free digital access to the premier theological library in North America. You can use your digital account to research topics from this course, explore theological questions, and more! On the start date of your course, you will receive an invitation to set your password and gain access using the email you registered for the course with.
Please view the “Login Instructions” below for more information.
Meet the Instructor
Dr. Ish Ruiz
Holding a PhD in Theology and Ethics, Dr. Ish Ruiz's research interests explore the intersection between queer theology, Latinx theology, ecclesiology, sexual ethics, liberation, human rights, and Catholic education. He has published articles on the inclusion of LGBTQ+ persons in Catholic schools and has actively ministered to queer Catholic school educators and students for almost a decade.
Prior to his appointment at Emory University, Dr. Ruiz taught as an adjunct professor at the University of Dayton, worked at the secondary school level for 11 years, chaired the Marianist LGBTQ+ Initiative team, offered several workshops to Catholic schools on Catholic LGBTQ+ inclusion, served as a union activist to protect the rights of LGBTQ+ Church employees, and presented in several pastoral conferences throughout the nation on Catholic LGBTQ+ inclusion.
If you have any questions about the course, please feel free to reach out to Ish at ish.ruiz@emory.edu.
Tell Us How We’re Doing!
Your feedback is important to us! Throughout your time in this course, you are encouraged to let us know how we are doing. Please click on the button below to submit a short survey or submit any comments you would like to share with our team. We look forward to serving you!
Courses in the Community: On Demand
Please check this section regularly for your weekly course recordings and important updates. If you are experiencing any delays or issues, please email our Coordinator of Digital Initiatives, Cristha Lea at candlerfoundry@emory.edu.
