The Archdiocese of St. Louis is “deeply saddened and disturbed” by the Boy Scouts of America’s announcement that the organization will allow transgender youth into its programs.

The archdiocese put out a statement Tuesday saying that such action is contrary to the organization’s dedication to honor, service and “duty to God” by allowing “girls struggling with gender dysphoria into their troops.”

Allowing transgender children to identify as boys is “failing to recognize the fundamental order of God’s creation,” the statement continues.

“The fact is that human beings are born with a sexual identity and not merely a ‘gender identity’ of one’s choosing,” reads the statement by the archdiocese. “This sexual identity affects the totality of the person in the unity of his or her body and soul, and it greatly affects one’s capacity to love and be loved.”

The archdiocese said it was “evaluating the effect” the new policy would have on troops affiliated with the church and “continue to be in dialogue with Boy Scouts of America in hopes that they will recognize their error and rededicate themselves to serving the needs of the boys in the organization.”