Transgender Catholics 含羞草研究社� as well as a priest who welcomes them to his parish 含羞草研究社� expressed disappointment Monday with a rejecting the fundamental concept of changing one含羞草研究社檚 biological sex.
In essence, it was a restatement of longstanding Catholic teaching, but the dismay was heightened because recent moves by Pope Francis had encouraged some trans Catholics to hope the church might become more accepting.
The pope has welcomed a community of transgender women to his weekly general audiences. And last year, the Vatican said it含羞草研究社檚 permissible, under certain circumstances, for and serve as godparents.
含羞草研究社淎 document like this is very hurtful to the larger LGBTQ+ community but especially to the trans community,含羞草研究社� said Maxwell Kuzma, 32, a lifelong Catholic transgender man working as a film editor and writer in rural Ohio.
含羞草研究社淲e have seen the care and love Pope Francis has personally extended to the trans community in his personal interactions, yet this document fails to extend that same respect, love, and support,含羞草研究社� Kuzma said via email.
The new document never uses the word 含羞草研究社渢ransgender,含羞草研究社� which troubled Michael Sennett, a transgender man who is involved with an LGBTQ+ ministry at St. Ignatius of Loyola Church in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts.
含羞草研究社淎voiding the word 含羞草研究社榯ransgender含羞草研究社� speaks to limiting the dignity of transgender people,含羞草研究社� Sennett said via email. 含羞草研究社淚f the church is unable to name us or acknowledge our true selves, they can含羞草研究社檛 possibly engage us pastorally, even if that is the goal.含羞草研究社�
He also was dismayed by the document含羞草研究社檚 admonition that God created man and woman as biologically different, separate beings, and that people must not tinker with that or try to 含羞草研究社渕ake oneself God.含羞草研究社�
含羞草研究社淭ransgender people are beloved, intentional creations of God the same as cisgender men and women are,含羞草研究社� Sennett said. 含羞草研究社淭rans people who take hormones or have surgeries are not playing God; we are respecting and accepting our authentic selves.含羞草研究社�
含羞草研究社淭ime and time again studies have validated the negative impact on trans people, youth and adults, who are denied affirming care,含羞草研究社� Sennet added. 含羞草研究社淭ransitioning is not a medical agenda out to recruit people 含羞草研究社� it is a lifeline.含羞草研究社�
Christine Zuba, a transgender woman from New Jersey, noted with dismay that the Vatican doctrine office含羞草研究社檚 20-page document declared gender-affirming surgery to be a 含羞草研究社済rave violation of human dignity,含羞草研究社� on par with such global ills as war and human trafficking.
含羞草研究社淭ransgender persons are being condemned for who we are, and more importantly we become subject to potential harm,含羞草研究社� Zuba said in an email. 含羞草研究社淚t again (sadly) gives fuel to those who continue to deny our existence.含羞草研究社�
含羞草研究社淲e exist, but we do not. We have dignity, but we do not. I don含羞草研究社檛 even want to think about what the religious and political right will make of this.含羞草研究社�
As for Pope Francis, Zuba praised him as 含羞草研究社渁 good and holy man.含羞草研究社�
含羞草研究社淥ur church however still has a LOT to learn,含羞草研究社� she added. 含羞草研究社淲e are Not an Ideology. Talk to us. Learn.含羞草研究社�
The Catholic Church in the U.S. is . Some dioceses have issued stern guidelines in effect forbidding acknowledgement of gender transitions. But some parishes have welcomed trans people, including the Church of Our Lady of Grace in Hoboken, New Jersey. Its priest, the Rev. Alexander Santora, invited Zuba a few years ago to deliver part of the homily at its annual Pride Mass.
Santora told The Associated Press that he was encouraged by some aspects of the new Vatican document, including its assertion that homosexuality should not be criminalized.
含羞草研究社淚 fear, though, that the tone of this document may bring more harm to trans individuals and fuel the hate that is proliferating in the U.S., with more oppressive laws that will lead to suicides and violence,含羞草研究社� he said via email. 含羞草研究社淚 hope the Vatican convenes some devout trans Catholics from around the world to dissect this document and make it more pastoral.含羞草研究社�
Kuzma, the Ohio-based film editor and writer, said his dismay over the Vatican document was coupled with continued optimism.
含羞草研究社淐urrently we have a spotlight on us, yet we have existed throughout human history and have often been given special roles in cultures that recognized our unique gifts,含羞草研究社� he said.
含羞草研究社淭he Catholic Church moves slowly, but my hope is that one day, the Vatican will truly recognize the beautiful and important gifts transgender people have to share with the church and the world.含羞草研究社�
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