Transgender Catholics 害羞草研究所� as well as a priest who welcomes them to his parish 害羞草研究所� expressed disappointment Monday with a rejecting the fundamental concept of changing one害羞草研究所檚 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害羞草研究所檚 permissible, under certain circumstances, for and serve as godparents.
害羞草研究所淎 document like this is very hurtful to the larger LGBTQ+ community but especially to the trans community,害羞草研究所� said Maxwell Kuzma, 32, a lifelong Catholic transgender man working as a film editor and writer in rural Ohio.
害羞草研究所淲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,害羞草研究所� Kuzma said via email.
The new document never uses the word 害羞草研究所渢ransgender,害羞草研究所� which troubled Michael Sennett, a transgender man who is involved with an LGBTQ+ ministry at St. Ignatius of Loyola Church in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts.
害羞草研究所淎voiding the word 害羞草研究所榯ransgender害羞草研究所� speaks to limiting the dignity of transgender people,害羞草研究所� Sennett said via email. 害羞草研究所淚f the church is unable to name us or acknowledge our true selves, they can害羞草研究所檛 possibly engage us pastorally, even if that is the goal.害羞草研究所�
He also was dismayed by the document害羞草研究所檚 admonition that God created man and woman as biologically different, separate beings, and that people must not tinker with that or try to 害羞草研究所渕ake oneself God.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所淭ransgender people are beloved, intentional creations of God the same as cisgender men and women are,害羞草研究所� Sennett said. 害羞草研究所淭rans people who take hormones or have surgeries are not playing God; we are respecting and accepting our authentic selves.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所淭ime and time again studies have validated the negative impact on trans people, youth and adults, who are denied affirming care,害羞草研究所� Sennet added. 害羞草研究所淭ransitioning is not a medical agenda out to recruit people 害羞草研究所� it is a lifeline.害羞草研究所�
Christine Zuba, a transgender woman from New Jersey, noted with dismay that the Vatican doctrine office害羞草研究所檚 20-page document declared gender-affirming surgery to be a 害羞草研究所済rave violation of human dignity,害羞草研究所� on par with such global ills as war and human trafficking.
害羞草研究所淭ransgender persons are being condemned for who we are, and more importantly we become subject to potential harm,害羞草研究所� Zuba said in an email. 害羞草研究所淚t again (sadly) gives fuel to those who continue to deny our existence.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所淲e exist, but we do not. We have dignity, but we do not. I don害羞草研究所檛 even want to think about what the religious and political right will make of this.害羞草研究所�
As for Pope Francis, Zuba praised him as 害羞草研究所渁 good and holy man.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所淥ur church however still has a LOT to learn,害羞草研究所� she added. 害羞草研究所淲e are Not an Ideology. Talk to us. Learn.害羞草研究所�
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.
害羞草研究所淚 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,害羞草研究所� he said via email. 害羞草研究所淚 hope the Vatican convenes some devout trans Catholics from around the world to dissect this document and make it more pastoral.害羞草研究所�
Kuzma, the Ohio-based film editor and writer, said his dismay over the Vatican document was coupled with continued optimism.
害羞草研究所淐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,害羞草研究所� he said.
害羞草研究所淭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.害羞草研究所�
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