Dear Pope Francis,

Alana Faith Chen, a devout young woman who wanted to be a nun, died by suicide, at age 24, on December 8th, 2019. From the age of 13, she received years of pastoral counseling that taught her to hate her sexual orientation and try to change it through Conversion Therapy. She was a beloved member of the Boulder, Colorado community, especially through her dedication to the homeless, and her death has scandalized many young people, turning them away from the Catholic Church.

We, the undersigned, ask you, Holy Father, to speak out against Conversion Therapy in the Catholic Church. Conversion Therapy, has been proven to lead to depression, self-harming behavior and suicide. Conversion Therapy is often disguised as pastoral counseling, “Reparative Therapy,” or healing ministry (for sexual “brokenness”), but in actuality the goal is to change a person’s sexual orientation. In the Archdiocese of Denver, Archbishop Samuel Aquila continues to promote Conversion Therapy through training programs for the clergy and laity. Devout, young people are vulnerable to these programs, especially because they want to belong in the Church, and are deeply afraid of hell.

Alana’s death asks us to reexamine the Church’s teachings and pastoral practices. Young, gay and lesbian Catholics are asked to do the impossible or die trying. They become depressed, anxious, fearful, and believe they are unworthy of God’s love. We ask that you do everything possible to protect people from Conversion Therapy in the Catholic Church.