Reflections on the Tragedy in Minneapolis
The Ruth Institute expresses deep sorrow regarding the recent events within the Catholic Church and school community in Minneapolis. In moments like this, when lives are shattered and innocence is lost, our hearts go out to the families, teachers, and students who will be forever changed.
Yet, it’s essential to approach this situation with a clear mind. There are numerous factors contributing to a crisis of this scale. Although new details are still emerging, we can fairly assert that family instability, mental health issues, and certain transgender ideologies are significant contributors.
There’s a troubling notion that by “transitioning” to the opposite sex, individuals might address their existing mental health challenges and alleviate their suffering. This concept merits serious consideration.
My inclination towards these matters began well before I established the Ruth Institute in 2008. I’ve held a long-standing concern about how family disintegration affects children.
Foundational Connections
In my initial book, Love and Economics: To Raise a Village, You Need a Family, I detailed how crucial the bond between infants and mothers is. That primary connection significantly influences the development of conscience and self-discipline. In a society where many are indifferent to the well-being of others, control becomes an elusive goal.
Since then, I have maintained my focus on the dangers tied to family breakdowns. Divorce can deeply impact children’s sense of identity, with lasting adverse effects. In conversations with those who’ve moved away from LGBTQ identities, I’ve frequently heard that parental divorce contributed to their early confusion. One woman shared, “When my parents divorced, I had no identity.” She later encountered struggles with drug addiction and contemplated her gender identity.
The Impact of Family Disruption
It’s important to note that Robert Westman’s parents went through a divorce when he was just 13.
His manifesto paints a picture of a troubled individual filled with animosity toward others. There hasn’t been any public information on whether he received a mental health diagnosis, but indications suggest that he struggled significantly with mental health.
Addressing Mental Health Issues
Too often, we find ourselves discussing mental health only in hindsight, after tragedies have occurred. This ongoing challenge in America’s approach to mental health is concerning. We haven’t achieved a balance between valuing individual freedom and safeguarding ourselves and others from psychological harm.
As I noted in a previous article, there’s a void in available resources for individuals who, despite posing a threat, haven’t yet acted out. Many people with mental health issues cycle through homelessness and jails for minor infractions while lacking substantial support. A significant portion of the homeless population faces conditions like bipolar disorder or schizophrenia. Yet, requirements for medication compliance complicate matters.
Confusing Ideologies
This leads to my observation of the disturbing changes I’ve witnessed in society. Influential forces across politics, business, and media propagate deceptive ideologies. Specifically, the concept of transgender ideology suggests, without convincing evidence, that one can be “born in the wrong body.”
This belief has created vast confusion and inflicted considerable harm. Proponents argue that transitioning can help resolve pre-existing mental health issues, but this often leads to more complications.
Supported by various businesses and organizations, this ideology has driven wedges through families and misled medical professionals. President Trump’s executive order aimed at retracting federal support for such beliefs indicates how deeply ingrained this ideology has become in American politics.
Parents in Crisis
Westman’s background in Minnesota fosters a highly charged atmosphere. Parents of teens questioning their gender identity often feel powerless, unable to access licensed therapy that explores their children’s feelings without risking their therapist’s credentials. This situation has arisen following Minnesota’s recent ban on “conversion therapy,” which broadly encompasses attempts to change one’s sexual orientation or gender identity.
In divorce cases, family courts may lean toward supporting parents who push for medical interventions for children experiencing gender confusion. In states like Minnesota, the prevailing attitude appears to favor the medicalization of these issues without parental consent or involvement.
A Call for Reflection
It’s painful to observe how the transgender advocacy movement seems to be getting its way. In the national outcry following the shooting, the focus quickly shifted to gun control, which, in my view, distracts from deeper and more pressing issues involving transgender dynamics in current politics.
As we seek healing, it’s crucial that the public engages in earnest discussions about these significant topics in the weeks ahead. We mustn’t overlook the lessons available here or exacerbate an already dire situation.
