The Vatican released new doctrine on what it calls violations of human dignity, including and gender affirming surgery, which has some Catholics saying it emboldens transphobes to cause further harm to trans people.

Rome

The Vatican has recently issued a new doctrine concerning what it describes as violations of human dignity. Among the issues addressed, gender-affirming surgery has been notably included in the document. This stance has sparked significant controversy within the Catholic community.

Some Catholics have expressed their discontent with the Vatican's position, arguing that it may empower transphobes to inflict further harm on transgender individuals. They assert that the doctrine's focus on gender-affirming surgery as a violation of human dignity is problematic and could contribute to the marginalization of transgender people within and beyond the Catholic Church.



Pope's stance on gender angers some Catholics

As the Pope met with families of Israeli hostages new documents he approved were creating controversy. Delivered by Argentinian Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernandez they outline what the church constitutes as human dignity along with a list of grave violations. Among them poverty, violence against women and war. It opposes the criminalization and persecution of people who are gay But it also opposes gender-affirming surgery and includes a section called gender theory which it says is extremely dangerous. I think they tried to walk that fine line to say you know there are certain cases that have to be looked at there has to be a sensitivity to the situation but as a kind of broad position the Vatican is saying no to that. Some within the church say the Vatican having that position seems at odds with Pope Francis's recent attempts at inclusion like announcements that transgender people can be baptized and be godparents and that priests can bless same-sex couples. Those who support greater 2SLGBTQ plus rights in the church weren't pleased with the doctrine. The danger of the Vatican making such statements is that they give license to all of the homophobes and transphobes around the world and that results in terrible harm. Well just definitely not helpful. Susan Gapka works to support 2SLGBTQ plus people in Toronto. She says the Vatican's new doctrine takes her back 60 years. I would hide my emotions and my feelings. If it's about dignity they would talk to trans children trans people like myself. Gapka says her works will continue no matter what the Vatican says. Stephanie Skenderis, CBC News, Toronto.

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