Colorado bishops call on Catholics to support measures protecting kids from trafficking and gender ideology

The four bishops of Colorado earlier this month urged the faithful to support three initiatives on the 2026 Colorado ballot that protect minors from gender mutilation and sex trafficking.

In a letter, Denver Archbishop Samual Aquila, Denver Auxiliary Bishop Jorge Rodriguez,  Pueblo Bishop Stephen Berg, and Colorado Springs Bishop James Golka, explained that the initiatives combat recently passed legislation that stifles the free speech and religious freedom of individuals and groups who oppose the LGBT movement’s controversial aims.

“The 2026 proposed citizen-led initiatives will empower Coloradans to secure their parental rights, protect their children and defend their First Amendment rights of conscience and expression,” the bishops wrote.

Initiative #108, “Penalties for Human Trafficking of a Minor,” seeks to reclassify the crime of sex trafficking children from a class 2 felony to a class 1 felony, which would mean perpetrators get a life sentence without the possibility of parole.

Colorado has the 10th-highest number of sex trafficking crimes, the letter stated. 

“Colorado is home to both Interstate 70 and Interstate 25 and children are often trafficked along those routes,” the bishops explained. “It is imperative that Coloradans strengthen laws that reject the modern slavery of sex trafficking of children.”

Initiative #109, Male and Female Participation in School Sports, requires school athletic programs to be designated as either male, female, or co-educational.

“School and athletic organization policies that undermine the biological reality of a person’s body as male or female deny human dignity and are abusive to minors,” the bishops wrote. “Policies that allow biological men to participate in women’s sports promote the unfair treatment of women and pose potentially dangerous and inappropriate situations for young women, including sharing bathrooms and locker rooms with biological men.”

Initiative #110, Prohibit Certain Surgeries on Minors, prevents medical practitioners from prescribing to minors hormones, surgeries, or any other treatments intended to alter their sex. It also bans the state from funding such treatments.

“The fundamental order of the human person is the unity of body and soul and attempts to alter biological sex are contrary to God’s divine plan for that person,” the bishops wrote. “This is why the Church emphasizes the need to respect the natural order of the human person, especially of children whose physical and mental well-being will be seriously harmed by permanent and life-altering medical interventions and surgeries.”

The bishops asked the faithful to uphold Church teaching by supporting the initiatives.

“May we, as a community of faith,” they concluded, “take this important stand for the dignity of the human person, the protection of children and the religious liberty of all.”