Kayko Driedger Hesslein
@crtcltheology.bsky.social
(she/her) PhD in Systematic Theology w/ an Allied Field in History; Professor of Theology and Dean of Studies; ELCIC pastor since 2002; Covid-cautious; against fascism; trans ally; Treaty 7 resident; collapse-accepting; FAFO
Pinned
When I post on theology or pastor things, consider me a professional expert. When I post on trans or covid/long covid things, consider me a personal expert and activist, when I post on anything else, that’s my own personal opinion, sometimes thought through but not always.
As someone with both tattoos and long covid, this is fascinating!
New @pnas.org
"This work represents the most extensive study to
date regarding the effect of tattoo ink on the immune response and raises serious health concerns associated with the tattooing" including reduced response to Covid vaccination
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
"This work represents the most extensive study to
date regarding the effect of tattoo ink on the immune response and raises serious health concerns associated with the tattooing" including reduced response to Covid vaccination
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Tattoo ink induces inflammation in the draining lymph node and alters the immune response to vaccination | PNAS
Despite safety concerns regarding the toxicity of tattoo ink, no studies have reported
the consequences of tattooing on the immune response. In thi...
www.pnas.org
November 25, 2025 at 9:37 PM
As someone with both tattoos and long covid, this is fascinating!
Reposted by Kayko Driedger Hesslein
The notwithstanding clause allows a province to make laws overriding parts of the charter of rights for five years.
The Assembly of First Nations expressed concerns over Alberta’s use of the clause to limit the rights of two-spirit and trans youth.
The Assembly of First Nations expressed concerns over Alberta’s use of the clause to limit the rights of two-spirit and trans youth.
Notwithstanding clause in Alberta raises concerns from Assembly of First Nations | APTN News
YouTube video by APTN News
youtu.be
November 25, 2025 at 12:42 AM
The notwithstanding clause allows a province to make laws overriding parts of the charter of rights for five years.
The Assembly of First Nations expressed concerns over Alberta’s use of the clause to limit the rights of two-spirit and trans youth.
The Assembly of First Nations expressed concerns over Alberta’s use of the clause to limit the rights of two-spirit and trans youth.
Reposted by Kayko Driedger Hesslein
1. A landmark study was just published in The Journal of Pediatrics.
It found a 68% reduction in suicidality for trans youth getting HRT.
It also found only 7 of more than 400 stopped taking HRT... and of those that did, 4 still identified as gender-diverse.
Transgender care saves lives.
It found a 68% reduction in suicidality for trans youth getting HRT.
It also found only 7 of more than 400 stopped taking HRT... and of those that did, 4 still identified as gender-diverse.
Transgender care saves lives.
Study In The Journal Of Pediatrics Finds Trans Youth Care Lowers Suicidality, Few Detransition
The groundbreaking study found that suicidality dropped for transgender youth receiving hormone therapy by nearly 70%, with only 7 patients of 432 discontinuing treatment.
www.erininthemorning.com
November 24, 2025 at 11:01 PM
1. A landmark study was just published in The Journal of Pediatrics.
It found a 68% reduction in suicidality for trans youth getting HRT.
It also found only 7 of more than 400 stopped taking HRT... and of those that did, 4 still identified as gender-diverse.
Transgender care saves lives.
It found a 68% reduction in suicidality for trans youth getting HRT.
It also found only 7 of more than 400 stopped taking HRT... and of those that did, 4 still identified as gender-diverse.
Transgender care saves lives.
A long thread but great summary of the latest in Pauline studies - Lutherans might find it raises interesting questions since we are so theologically invested in Paul.
“Interrogating the Authenticity of the Pauline Epistles” (Pauline Epistles Section S23-318 #aarsbl25). Highlights:
November 24, 2025 at 2:43 PM
A long thread but great summary of the latest in Pauline studies - Lutherans might find it raises interesting questions since we are so theologically invested in Paul.
Reposted by Kayko Driedger Hesslein
Breaking News!
Code UFB!!!
On November 22nd, the planet hit 1.81°C above the 1850-1900 pre-industrial baseline, making it the warmest November 22nd on record, and likely the warmest November 22nd in the last 120,000 years.
Hot times ahead.
Code UFB!!!
On November 22nd, the planet hit 1.81°C above the 1850-1900 pre-industrial baseline, making it the warmest November 22nd on record, and likely the warmest November 22nd in the last 120,000 years.
Hot times ahead.
November 24, 2025 at 12:54 PM
Breaking News!
Code UFB!!!
On November 22nd, the planet hit 1.81°C above the 1850-1900 pre-industrial baseline, making it the warmest November 22nd on record, and likely the warmest November 22nd in the last 120,000 years.
Hot times ahead.
Code UFB!!!
On November 22nd, the planet hit 1.81°C above the 1850-1900 pre-industrial baseline, making it the warmest November 22nd on record, and likely the warmest November 22nd in the last 120,000 years.
Hot times ahead.
Okay. The edges drive me completely nuts. It’s like a sticker that isn’t properly lined up. I hate it. A lot. Am I the only one?
November 24, 2025 at 3:35 AM
Okay. The edges drive me completely nuts. It’s like a sticker that isn’t properly lined up. I hate it. A lot. Am I the only one?
Love it when my interests intersect online!
A friend who teaches theology shared with me a post about CS Lewis's Mere Christianity, which discusses foundational Christian logic across denominations. It reminded me of Dale's tweet below, and I wanted to share some thoughts here regarding modesty and respectability, which are often hot topics.
November 23, 2025 at 7:48 PM
Love it when my interests intersect online!
November 23, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Reposted by Kayko Driedger Hesslein
Good to share my work on Usha Vance, white supremacy, and the immigrant exceptionalism of South Asians today at #aarsbl.
South Asian American conservatism relies on the anti immigrant narrative as a way to legitimize “good” immigrants. It’s an exclusionary politics of affirmation.
South Asian American conservatism relies on the anti immigrant narrative as a way to legitimize “good” immigrants. It’s an exclusionary politics of affirmation.
November 22, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Good to share my work on Usha Vance, white supremacy, and the immigrant exceptionalism of South Asians today at #aarsbl.
South Asian American conservatism relies on the anti immigrant narrative as a way to legitimize “good” immigrants. It’s an exclusionary politics of affirmation.
South Asian American conservatism relies on the anti immigrant narrative as a way to legitimize “good” immigrants. It’s an exclusionary politics of affirmation.
So proud to be a Lutheran in Alberta! 🏳️⚧️ 💕
November 23, 2025 at 12:49 AM
So proud to be a Lutheran in Alberta! 🏳️⚧️ 💕
Good.
November 22, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Good.
Reposted by Kayko Driedger Hesslein
Relying on ChatGPT to teach you about a topic leaves you with shallower knowledge than Googling and reading about it, according to new research that compared what more than 10,000 people knew after using one method or the other.
Shared by @gizmodo.com: buff.ly/yAAHtHq
Shared by @gizmodo.com: buff.ly/yAAHtHq
November 21, 2025 at 11:48 AM
Relying on ChatGPT to teach you about a topic leaves you with shallower knowledge than Googling and reading about it, according to new research that compared what more than 10,000 people knew after using one method or the other.
Shared by @gizmodo.com: buff.ly/yAAHtHq
Shared by @gizmodo.com: buff.ly/yAAHtHq
Couldn’t happen to a better guy. Remove his access to all avenues of power. Classroom and scholarship. These are the consequences that matter to people like him.
#BREAKING: Former Harvard President Lawrence H. Summers will immediately leave his role as an instructor at Harvard while the University investigates his ties to child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.
Dhruv T. Patel and Cam N. Srivastava report.
Dhruv T. Patel and Cam N. Srivastava report.
Summers Will Not Finish Semester of Teaching as Harvard Investigates Epstein Ties | News | The Harvard Crimson
Former Harvard President Lawrence H. Summers will immediately leave his role as an instructor at Harvard while the University investigates his ties to child sex trafficker Jeffrey E. Epstein.
www.thecrimson.com
November 20, 2025 at 3:42 AM
Couldn’t happen to a better guy. Remove his access to all avenues of power. Classroom and scholarship. These are the consequences that matter to people like him.
Reposted by Kayko Driedger Hesslein
#BREAKING: Former Harvard President Lawrence H. Summers will immediately leave his role as an instructor at Harvard while the University investigates his ties to child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.
Dhruv T. Patel and Cam N. Srivastava report.
Dhruv T. Patel and Cam N. Srivastava report.
Summers Will Not Finish Semester of Teaching as Harvard Investigates Epstein Ties | News | The Harvard Crimson
Former Harvard President Lawrence H. Summers will immediately leave his role as an instructor at Harvard while the University investigates his ties to child sex trafficker Jeffrey E. Epstein.
www.thecrimson.com
November 20, 2025 at 12:30 AM
#BREAKING: Former Harvard President Lawrence H. Summers will immediately leave his role as an instructor at Harvard while the University investigates his ties to child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.
Dhruv T. Patel and Cam N. Srivastava report.
Dhruv T. Patel and Cam N. Srivastava report.
Some theologies (like an omnipotent and interventionist God who saves the faithful) can be spiritually abusive and also literally murderous.
November 19, 2025 at 9:36 PM
Some theologies (like an omnipotent and interventionist God who saves the faithful) can be spiritually abusive and also literally murderous.
The pope, whoever might be in the role, is Catholic. Any gestures towards solidarity will only ever be gestures until Catholic doctrine changes.
19 Nov 2025 -- Continuing Pope Francis's tradition, Pope Leo invites trans women to World Day of the Poor lunch but then doesn't sit with them, seating them at other tables. Leo has already spoken out against the “homosexual lifestyle” and gay families. @rikiwilchins.bsky.social
Pope Leo invites transgender women to Vatican lunch, but doesn't sit with them
Pope Leo is continuing Pope Francis' tradition of inviting transgender women to lunch, but not his tradition of sitting with them.
www.advocate.com
November 19, 2025 at 2:24 PM
The pope, whoever might be in the role, is Catholic. Any gestures towards solidarity will only ever be gestures until Catholic doctrine changes.
The Russian Orthodox Church has been compromised forever. Pussy riot needs to release a new song.
November 19, 2025 at 12:42 AM
The Russian Orthodox Church has been compromised forever. Pussy riot needs to release a new song.
Dean life means being depressed because the Canadian federal government cap on international students means my school can't serve the students who want to study with us. #highered
November 17, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Dean life means being depressed because the Canadian federal government cap on international students means my school can't serve the students who want to study with us. #highered
Reposted by Kayko Driedger Hesslein
From a statement from faith leaders at Broadview this morning:
"God does not bless cages. God does not sanction abductions. God demands freedom."
"God does not bless cages. God does not sanction abductions. God demands freedom."
November 15, 2025 at 1:00 AM
From a statement from faith leaders at Broadview this morning:
"God does not bless cages. God does not sanction abductions. God demands freedom."
"God does not bless cages. God does not sanction abductions. God demands freedom."
I don’t know about the sciences but in the humanities these people can’t be separated from their work. There is no way their contempt of other humans doesn’t somehow influence their work and contaminate it from the ground up.
remember the time a prominent political scientist in his 50s had breakfast with a bunch of women grad students in their 20s and told them he understood why profs in small towns dated their students because there "weren't other options" because I do!!!
November 16, 2025 at 1:59 PM
I don’t know about the sciences but in the humanities these people can’t be separated from their work. There is no way their contempt of other humans doesn’t somehow influence their work and contaminate it from the ground up.
Reposted by Kayko Driedger Hesslein
16 Nov 2025 -- As US Bishops overwhelmingly vote to cut off all affirming care for trans patients getting medical treated in Catholic hospitals Pope Leo XIV meets and dines with trans Catholic activists during annual Church Jubilee of the Poor. @rikiwilchins.bsky.social
Pope Leo set to dine with trans activists during Sunday's Jubilee for the Poor
Pope Leo XIV will meet and dine with Alessia Nobile and other trans Catholic activists this Sunday, during a special Vatican lunch marking the Church’s
www.thepinknews.com
November 16, 2025 at 11:42 AM
16 Nov 2025 -- As US Bishops overwhelmingly vote to cut off all affirming care for trans patients getting medical treated in Catholic hospitals Pope Leo XIV meets and dines with trans Catholic activists during annual Church Jubilee of the Poor. @rikiwilchins.bsky.social
I don’t want to overestimate my abilities as a theologian here, but I’m pretty sure I could break it. And teach my students how to do the same.
The app Text With Jesus uses artificial intelligence and chatbots to offer spiritual guidance to users who are looking to connect with a higher power: on.nbc10.com/7XM8xrf
People can text with Jesus on a controversial new app. How does it work?
Artificial intelligence app Text With Jesus lets users chat with biblical figures and it is raising debate over faith and technology.
on.nbc10.com
November 14, 2025 at 10:33 PM
I don’t want to overestimate my abilities as a theologian here, but I’m pretty sure I could break it. And teach my students how to do the same.
Reposted by Kayko Driedger Hesslein
at one point, i watched a cook county sheriff’s officer (who appears to be in charge) point out a priest in the crowd.
he and a couple officers then went into the crowd , dragged him into the street, and arrested him.
situation is still tense as crowd jostles with police to get into the street.
he and a couple officers then went into the crowd , dragged him into the street, and arrested him.
situation is still tense as crowd jostles with police to get into the street.
November 14, 2025 at 4:14 PM
at one point, i watched a cook county sheriff’s officer (who appears to be in charge) point out a priest in the crowd.
he and a couple officers then went into the crowd , dragged him into the street, and arrested him.
situation is still tense as crowd jostles with police to get into the street.
he and a couple officers then went into the crowd , dragged him into the street, and arrested him.
situation is still tense as crowd jostles with police to get into the street.