Catholic Couple Raises Alarm After Child's Removal Over Pronoun Dispute

In Indiana, a Catholic couple is petitioning the Supreme Court to challenge the state’s decision to remove their child from their home. This action follows their refusal to acknowledge his chosen name and pronouns.

Religious Beliefs vs. State Intervention

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The case, M.C. and J.C. v. Indiana Department of Child Services, involves Mary and Jeremy Cox. They faced an investigation by Indiana authorities for not using their son’s preferred pronouns and name, which do not align with his biological sex.

Represented by Becket, the Coxes are appealing to the Supreme Court.

Gender Identity Conflict

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The argument centers on state courts permitting Indiana to prevent the child from living with his parents due to a conflict arising from the child’s gender identity and the parents’ religious convictions.

Abuse Claims

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It’s important to note that, although the state concluded the allegations of abuse against Mary and Jeremy were unfounded, they maintained that the disagreement over gender identity was causing distress to the child.

Religious Parental Rights

Lori Windham, the vice president and senior counsel at Becket, expressed her views to Fox News Digital regarding the ordeal faced by Mary and Jeremy. She emphasized, “Keeping a child away from loving parents because of their religious beliefs—even when the state admits there was no abuse or neglect—is wrong and it’s against the law.”

“The Court should take this case and make clear that other states can’t take children away because of ideological disagreements.”

Catholic Beliefs and Gender Identity

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In 2019, Mary and Jeremy Cox faced a significant family challenge when their son revealed his identification as a girl. Based on their Catholic beliefs about fixed biological sex, they did not recognize him with pronouns or a name contradicting his biological gender.

Mental Health Issues

The parents, noticing his struggle with mental health issues, including an eating disorder, pursued therapeutic support. Yet, in 2021, this led to scrutiny from Indiana officials.

Custody Removed

The authorities removed the teen from the Coxes’ custody, citing their refusal to acknowledge his gender identity, and placed him in a gender-affirming environment.

Impact of Custody

Despite the lack of substantiated abuse claims, officials argued that the Coxes’ actions exacerbated the child’s eating disorder, a condition that reportedly worsened after his placement in the transition-affirming home.

Heartache and Fear

In a press release, Mary and Jeremy Cox shared their distress, stating, “This is what every parent is afraid of. We love our son and wanted to care for him, but the state of Indiana robbed us of that opportunity by taking him from our home and banning us from speaking to him about gender.”

Hope in Supreme Court

They expressed hope for the Supreme Court’s intervention, adding, “We are hopeful that the Justices will take our case and protect other parents from having to endure the nightmare we did.”

Parental Rights Restricted

During the initial trial, Indiana officials insisted the child needed a home that accepted her identity, leading to restricted visitation for the Coxes and barring discussions on their religious beliefs regarding sexuality and gender identity.

Harsh Reality in Court Decision

Despite being deemed fit parents, the court maintained the child’s removal, a decision later affirmed by the appeals court.

A Nationwide Concern

Windhamn highlighted the broader implications of the case, stating, “If this can happen in Indiana, it can happen anywhere. Tearing a child away from loving parents because of their religious beliefs, which are shared by millions of Americans, is an outrage to the law, parental rights, and basic human decency.”