A renowned Austrian Catholic school now features five gender options for prospective pupils on its revamped enrolment form – a change that has sparked public outrage. The Sacré Coeur Riedenburg secondary school was, until recently, regarded as a conservative and traditional institution. Now, however, the school has taken a new direction: pupils may belong to as many as five genders. Parents have reacted angrily and pointed the school leadership back to Biblical teachings.

Anyone enrolling their child in a Catholic school expects values, Christian orientation and clear pedagogy. Yet, at Sacré Coeur Riedenburg – which, until very recently, was an all-girls’ school – parents are met with a surprise on the enrolment form: they must indicate whether their child is “divers”, “inter” or “offen” (open).

For many years, Sacré Coeur Riedenburg stood as the last bastion of the classic girls’ school model in the West. While the order’s other institutions – Sacré Coeur Graz, Sacré Coeur Pressbaum in the Vienna Woods, or the order’s campus on Rennweg – had long since switched to mixed classes, Riedenburg continued to uphold the girls-school model. It was only in 2018 that the school opened its doors to boys.

From that point on, the application form offered two gender options: male and female. However, the current enrolment sheets show that the number of categories has since increased.

For a long time, filling in the gender section was a trivial matter. Now, however, it has become more complicated: “female” and “male” have been joined by “divers”, “open” and “inter,” as well as “n.a”, meaning “not specified”. Two genders have become five – plus the “not specified” category. The change affects all four school types: primary school, general secondary school (AHS), international school, and the higher-level human ecology institution all require pupils to choose from these gender categories.

“We Were Created Male and Female… ”

In light of this, many have asked how such a change can be reconciled with a Catholic private school.

According to Catholic teaching, only two sexes exist. This has been confirmed by previous popes as well.

The Austrian Bishops’ Conference also adheres to the doctrine that man and woman are fundamental pillars that define Christian people. The Church continues to rely on Christian teaching on creation, referring to the Book of Genesis. Biology and medical science likewise recognise only two sexes.

„Divers“ bei Schüler-Anmeldung? 5 Geschlechter an katholischer Ordensschule | Exxpress https://t.co/Gt3zbjRWfP

— Romana Bortwander🇦🇹 (@RBortwalder) December 2, 2025

Puberty: Between Hormonal Storms and Ideological Socialisation

There is also a serious background to the issue: puberty – a stage of life that young people experience at school as well. Here they often undergo hormonal and psychological changes, accompanied by uncertainty regarding their own identity. Clinical experts and psychotherapists warn that such periods are eagerly exploited by woke activists and gender-identity lobby groups, who encourage young people to pursue early medical interventions that they may later regret – as pointed out by the Exxpress news portal, which also highlighted that their editorial office had been informed of the matter by parents.