The Catholic bishops of Colorado have united through the Colorado Catholic Conference to express their support for three significant initiatives aimed at safeguarding the rights and well-being of children and families across the state.
These initiatives—#108 Penalties for Human Trafficking of a Minor, #109 Male and Female Participation in School Sports, and #110 Prohibit Certain Surgeries on Minors—seek a spot on the 2026 Colorado ballot and require nearly 125,000 valid signatures within six months of their launch in early September.
In a letter directed to the faithful, the bishops are encouraging Catholic parishes to facilitate signature collection efforts over the next three months.
They have designated three key weekends for this initiative: September 13-14, coinciding with the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross; October 4-5, marking the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, who is recognized as the Patron Saint of Colorado; and November 1-2, which corresponds with the Feast of All Saints and All Souls.
The bishops emphasized the urgent need for these measures as they address increasing concerns over legislative actions perceived as infringing on parental rights.
During the recent 2025 Colorado legislative session, the introduction of HB25-1312 Legal Protections for Transgender Individuals sparked massive public outcry, with over 1,090 citizens lobbying at the state capitol against the bill.
Despite the overwhelming opposition, many were silenced as committee leadership limited their testimonies.
The recently enacted law, effective May 16, has raised alarms among religious and conservative groups, as it codifies what they view as discrimination against those whose beliefs regarding human sexuality conflict with the government-mandated definitions of “sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression.”
This new framework threatens to penalize individuals and faith-based organizations for failing to comply with the new standards, including facing criminal and financial penalties under the revised Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act (CADA).
In their letter, the bishops pointed out that the House version of HB25-1312 even sought to consider a parent’s stance on their child’s gender identity in custody disputes, though that provision was ultimately removed following public backlash.
Despite this, the bishops argue that parents still face significant challenges regarding state overreach in their roles.
Additionally, they highlight a sister bill, HB25-1309, referred to as Protect Access to Gender-Affirming Healthcare, which mandates that health insurance providers cover a range of medical treatments and surgeries deemed “medically necessary” for minors starting from the age of 12.
According to the bishops, this includes access to hormone therapy, genital reconstruction, breast augmentation, and facial reconstruction, all of which they argue violate the First Amendment rights of individuals and institutions that oppose such actions on moral or religious grounds.
In response to these legislative measures, the bishops assert that the initiatives they are advocating will protect parental rights and enshrine safeguards for children while also respecting First Amendment rights regarding freedom of expression and conscience.
Each initiative seeks to address a unique concern:
Initiative #108 aims to enhance penalties related to the human trafficking of minors.
This initiative proposes escalating the crime from a class 2 felony to a class 1 felony, which would carry a mandatory life sentence without the possibility of parole or release for those convicted.
The bishops stress that human trafficking strips away the dignity and fundamental rights of the individuals involved.
According to data from the International Labour Organization and the Walk Free Foundation’s 2016 report, a staggering 25 percent of sex trafficking victims are children aged 17 or younger, totaling around 10 million worldwide.
With Colorado being ranked 10th in the nation for reported sex trafficking cases, the bishops argue that urgent changes to the law are necessary to combat this crisis effectively.
Initiative #109 centers on the participation of males and females in school sports, asserting the necessity to acknowledge inherent biological differences.
By mandating that all interscholastic and intramural athletic programs be categorized based on biological sex—both for men, women, or advanced co-ed options—this initiative seeks to maintain fairness and safety in women’s sports.
The bishops contend that policies allowing biological males to compete against females not only undermine fair competition but also pose potential safety risks, particularly concerning shared bathrooms and locker rooms.
They argue that fostering an environment that respects biological reality is essential to preserving the dignity of both sexes and echoes the principles laid out in Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, which aimed to afford equal educational opportunities to women.
Initiative #110 is focused on prohibiting certain medical interventions and surgeries on minors, dubbed the “Protect Children from Irreversible Sex Change Surgery Act.”
The bishops emphasize that minors are not sufficiently mature to make irreversible medical decisions regarding gender.
The initiative seeks to ban medical providers from performing, prescribing, or administering any procedures intended to alter the biological sex of minors and bars the use of state funds for such interventions.
Citing studies and theological teachings, they argue that altering one’s biological sex brings about dire and permanent consequences, including potential infertility.
The bishops reference the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith’s 2024 Declaration, which asserts that such interventions threaten the unique dignity of individuals bestowed upon them from conception.
Referencing the Catholic Church’s teachings, the bishops highlight the importance of respecting and upholding the natural order of human existence, especially concerning the protection of children’s physical and mental well-being.
They urge the Catholic faithful in Colorado to take a stand in accordance with Church teachings by signing these petitions and, where possible, volunteering to assist with the collection of signatures, ensuring that these crucial initiatives make it onto the 2026 ballot.
For those not yet registered to vote, the bishops provided a link to help facilitate that process.
As a united community of faith, the bishops call upon all to stand up for the sanctity of human life, the protection of children, and the promotion of religious liberty throughout Colorado.
image source from：denvercatholic
