Some trans Catholics feel excluded because the national convention of Catholic bishops in the United States rejects the idea of gender change. The Vatican released a starkly contradictory assertion on Wednesday, saying that it is acceptable for transgender Catholics to become baptized and serve as guardians in certain situations.
Francis DeBernardo, executive director of the Maryland-based New Ways Ministry, which promotes greater Gay acceptance in the chapel, said,” It is a major step for trans inclusion… it is great and excellent information.”
Pope Francis and Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernández, who oversees the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, signed the document on October 21. On the website of that office, it was published on Wednesday.
A transgender person may be baptized under the same circumstances as another faithful, according to the document, if it did not embarrass or “disorient” other Catholics.
In a similar vein, the report stated that trans adults could serve as pioneers or godmothers under certain circumstances, yet if they had undergone gender-transition operation.
This, according to DeBernardo, appears to be a reversal of the Vatican’s 2015 ruling prohibiting the godparenting of transgender men in Spain.
Pope Francis has often expressed interest in making the Catholic Church more accepting of LGBTQ people during his pontificate, despite the fact that teachings opposing same-sex relationship and physical activity are still firmly in place.
A small but growing range of churches in the United States have established Gay aid organizations and accept transgender people on their terms. However, a number of Catholic dioceses have published rules that restrict transgender individuals and refuse to acknowledge their gender identity.
The Rev. James Martin, a Jesuit priest who has long pushed for more Gay participation in the temple, was pleased with the new law.
Transgender Catholics have been severely prohibited from taking part in church activities in many provinces and districts, including in the US, not because of any canon law but rather as a result of the choices of bishop, priest, and agricultural partners,” he wrote via email.
According to him, the Vatican’s speech” clearly acknowledges not just their personhood but also their place within their own church.” ” I hope it encourages the Catholic religion to view them more as individuals rather than as difficulties.”
The report, according to the Vatican, was in response to a letter that was sent in July asking about LGBTQ women’s potential participation in baptisms and weddings.
The document, according to DeBernardo, “proves that the Catholic Church may — and does- change its mind about particular practices and policies,” and he made the suggestion that some diocesan anti-trans policies may now need to be revoked. However, he expressed dissatisfaction that the file continued to forbid same-sex lovers from acting as godparents.
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