The faculty and staff of OLLU Worden School of Social Service have issued a statement condemning changes to the Social Work Code of Conduct that were passed by the Texas State Board of Social Worker Examiners at the request of the governor’s office. The changes remove protections against discrimination for disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.

Read the full statement online .

“The Worden School of Social Service (WSSS) at Our Lady of the Lake University, the oldest school of social work in Texas, which for the last 78 years has trained, educated, and socialized social workers, unequivocally condemns the Texas State Board of Social Worker Examiners’ (TSBSWE) decision,” according to the statement.

“As a program within a Catholic institution, WSSS finds further affirmation for our position from the statement of United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) which supports our belief that there should never be a law that endorses unethical and discriminatory behavior in social work practice. In “Always Our Children,” the USCCB makes it clear that the fundamental human rights of all people must be defended against injustice and oppression,” the statement says.