Catholic parents lose custody battle

Joseph and Arlene Kutzko haven't seen their daughter Sophie, 17, since 2024 after Massachusetts child welfare removed her from their home. They claim the state acted because they refused to affirm her transition due to their Catholic faith.

School allegedly hid gender counseling

The Kutzkos say Algonquin Regional High School exposed Sophie to LGBTQ teachings without their knowledge and held secret counseling sessions about gender transition. They were told the after-school sessions were for math tutoring.

Daughter became withdrawn, parents say

Sophie became more withdrawn from her family in late November 2024 when she was 15, according to her father. The parents claim they had no idea what was happening until the school alerted state services.

“It came on like a tornado.”

School used male pronouns secretly

The family's lawyer says the school began using male and non-binary pronouns for Sophie in secret counseling sessions to affirm her rejection of her sex, all without parental knowledge or consent.

Fighting testosterone treatment

The Kutzkos are battling in court to prevent Sophie from receiving high-dose testosterone, which their lawyer argues requires parental consent or court permission and does not qualify as ordinary medical care.

“We are actively fighting in court to keep them from really poisoning this young lady with testosterone.”

Abuse allegations later dropped

Joseph was arrested on physical abuse allegations, but the family's lawyer says those claims were untrue and unsupported. Only a vague neglect charge remains, which they believe stems from refusing the transition.

Parents barred from contact

The Kutzkos say they cannot visit, hug, or kiss their daughter. Sophie's current residence is unclear, and the parents are begging the state to return her to their family.

“I even begged them just to hug her or kiss her. They said they can't; they will not allow it.”

Immediate goal: block testosterone

While the parents' long-term goal is custody, their shorter-term priority is preventing the state from administering testosterone to Sophie without their consent.

“The most important thing is to bring her back to our family, but a shorter-term goal is to prevent them from giving her testosterone.”

School denies all allegations

The Public Schools of Northborough and Southborough said they aggressively and unequivocally deny the Kutzkos' claims as baseless, insensitive, and dangerous to the named child.

School cites mandatory reporting rules

Superintendent Gregory Martineau said state mandatory reporting guidelines for school employees cast doubt on the parents' claims, suggesting they have no basis in reality.

Lawyer unavailable for comment

The Child and Parental Rights Campaign, which represents the family's lawyer Vernadette Broyles, declined to discuss the case further with media outlets.

Case involves religious beliefs

The dispute centers on whether parental religious beliefs about gender identity can override school and state decisions to support a teen's transition without parental consent.

Parental authority at stake

The case raises questions about when schools should involve parents in decisions about a student's gender identity and whether state intervention is justified when parents object on religious grounds.

Medical consent questions loom

The legal battle hinges partly on whether high-dose testosterone constitutes ordinary medical care that can proceed without parental consent or if it requires court approval.

Emotional toll on family

The Kutzkos became visibly emotional during their media interview, describing the sudden loss of contact with their daughter and their ongoing legal fight to prevent medical treatment.

Broader policy implications

The case reflects national tensions over school policies on transgender student support, parental notification, and the balance between student privacy and parental rights.

Outcome remains uncertain

As the legal proceedings continue, Sophie's location and wellbeing remain unknown to her parents, and the court's final decision on custody and medical treatment is pending.