In the next two weeks a number of California’s ostensibly Catholic Colleges and Universities will hold their graduation ceremonies. The ceremonies will include what are called ‘Lavender Graduations,’ informal parts of commencement that don’t replace the traditional graduation ceremony, but celebrate LGBT students and allies.

New Ways Ministries, an organization that seeks to undermine Catholic teaching on sexuality and the family, featured on their blog a recent post that began with the statement “Catholic higher education is leading our church towards more supportive and affirming LGBT practices.” The post then goes on to identify Catholic schools that celebrate Lavender Graduations.

Four of the eight schools listed are in California: Loyola Marymount College, under Archbishop José Gomez of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles; Saint Mary’s College in Moraga, under Bishop Michael Barber of the Diocese of Oakland; Santa Clara University, under Bishop Patrick McGrath of the Diocese of San Jose; and the University of San Francisco, under Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of the Archdiocese of San Francisco.

Loyola Marymount University celebrated its 6th Annual Lavender Graduation celebration on Saturday, April 30.

The website of St Mary’s College in Moraga announces that they will celebrate their “Tenth Annual Lavender Graduate Celebration (LGBTQIA Community)” on May 12.

Santa Clara University’s Rainbow Resource Center webpage announces that the school will celebrate their Lavender Graduation on June 2. The Santa Clara post also offers a link to the Human Rights Campaign—the premiere homosexual activist organization in the country.

The website of the University of San Francisco announces that their ‘Lavender Graduation” will be held on May 18, and invites readers to “celebrate the achievements of students who promote and exemplify leadership within the queer community.”

These events deserve comment from the responsible bishops. Silence on the part of the responsible Ordinary constitutes negligence towards the souls of the students and the educators over whom they are duty-bound to be exercising a pastoral responsibility.

To contact Archbishop José Gomez: (213) 637-7534.

To contact Bishop Michael Barber: (510) 893-4711.

To contact Bishop Patrick McGrath: (408) 983-0100.

To contact Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone: (415) 614-4500.