Brother Christian Matson, a Catholic hermit in the Diocese of Lexington in Kentucky, recently announced that he is a transgender man, making him potentially the first transgender person in his position in the Catholic Church. Matson was raised Presbyterian before converting to Catholicism in 2010 and transitioning in college. He took vows as a hermit in 2022 under Bishop John Stowe. Matson is also a Benedictine oblate and has a defiant message for those who are critical of transgender individuals in the church, stating that God has called them and engrafted them into the church.
The Vatican recently published a document titled “Infinite Dignity,” approved by Pope Francis, which rejected gender-affirming surgery as a violation of God’s gift of human dignity. The document stated that individuals should not try to alter the biological differences between men and women as created by God. Some dioceses in the U.S. have issued guidelines forbidding acknowledgment of gender transitions, while others have been more welcoming. Matson’s journey to becoming a hermit was met with obstacles due to a 2000 Vatican document that stated individuals who had undergone gender transitions were ineligible for religious life.
After seeking advice from a canon lawyer, studying in the U.K., and co-founding a nonprofit in New York City, Matson connected with Bishop John Stowe, who has been advocating for a more inclusive approach to LGBTQ+ individuals. Stowe accepted Matson as a hermit, citing that the hermit life does not involve priesthood or sacramental ministry and is relatively secluded. Matson felt an enormous relief upon being accepted by Stowe and renewed his vows as a diocesan hermit in 2023. He explained that he became Catholic after transitioning due to the sacramental understanding of the body and the church’s emphasis on unity.
Matson does not seek ordination but has taken vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience and aims to dedicate his life to Christ through a rule of life that allows him to continue his work in the arts and live a contemplative life in a private hermitage. The Diocese of Lexington stated that Matson has been accompanied by a competent spiritual director and undergone formation in the Benedictine tradition. In 2022, Matson felt compelled to publicly declare his identity as a transgender man to challenge the church’s misconceptions and to advocate for greater acceptance of transgender individuals within the Catholic Church.
The acknowledgment of Matson as a transgender hermit by the Diocese of Lexington represents a step forward in recognizing and supporting LGBTQ+ individuals within the Catholic Church. Despite the Vatican’s stance on gender-affirming surgeries, Matson’s story demonstrates the importance of compassion, understanding, and inclusion in religious institutions. By sharing his journey and identity publicly, Matson hopes to inspire others and create a more welcoming and affirming environment for transgender individuals within the Catholic community.
