A New Jersey Catholic high school faced criticism after refusing to allow a newly accepted student to express her “gender identity.”

Camden Catholic High School accepted Mason Catrambone, who transitioned from female to male during the summer, reports NJ.com.

After finding out about Catrambone’s transition, school officials said they would not be able to offer her accommodations for her new gender identity because it would violate church teachings.

“After discussion with the student’s parents and reflection on the requests, it was clear that we could not provide the accommodations, as they would contradict Catholic teaching on gender identity,” Michael Walsh, a spokesman for the Diocese of Camden, said.

Walsh also pointed out the media misrepresented the situation, saying it was the parents who pulled Catarmbone out of the school after she wasn’t allowed to wear the boy’s uniform and use the facilities in the nurse’s office.

“Our administrators took great care to meet with the family and discuss their requests for accommodations. Adhering to its Catholic principles, the school concluded that it could not accommodate the family’s requests without compromising some of the basic tenets of our faith,” Walsh stated.

A Change.org petition, started by a student at the school, made its rounds to try and garner support for Catrambone.

“I ask that students, faculty, alumni, and anyone else who doesn’t support Camden Catholic’s decision, sign this and show that you stand with Mason,” the petition reads.

The petition, which garnered almost 2,000 signatures, urges signers to contact the school and the Diocese of Camden.

“Im signing this because you shouldn’t have less of an oppurnity bc of your race, gender, sexual orentation, etc,” one signer said.

School official know about the petition and the diocese supports the school’s position, Walsh said.

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