The Vatican declared gender-affirming surgery and surrogacy as grave violations of human dignity, similar to abortion and euthanasia, in a new document titled “Infinite Dignity.” Pope Francis approved the 20-page declaration after five years of development. The Vatican reaffirmed its rejection of “gender theory,” stating that changing one’s gender goes against God’s plan. The document distinguishes between gender-affirming surgeries and genital abnormalities that are present at birth or develop later.
The document also addresses countries that criminalize homosexuality, echoing Pope Francis’ stance that being homosexual is not a crime. It denounces the imprisonment, torture, and discrimination of individuals based solely on their sexual orientation as contrary to human dignity. The Vatican emphasizes the threats to human dignity posed by poverty, war, human trafficking, and forced migration, in addition to abortion and euthanasia. Surrogacy was highlighted as violating the dignity of the surrogate mother and the resulting child.
In 2019, the Vatican published a detailed position on gender, rejecting the idea that people can choose or change their genders and emphasizing the complementarity of male and female sex organs. The new document from the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith builds on that previous position, focusing on the importance of a child’s natural origin and dignity. The document calls gender fluidity a symptom of modern culture’s confusion around freedom and momentary desires, reinforcing the Vatican’s stance on gender and sexuality.
While the document condemns legislation and violence against LGBTQ+ individuals, it has received criticism from transgender activists for being hurtful and devoid of real trans people’s voices and experiences. The distinction made between transgender people and intersex people has been called out as hypocritical, with concerns raised about the impact on transgender individuals’ dignity and well-being. The document’s timing coincides with a backlash against transgender rights in the United States and other parts of the world, with a focus on restricting medical care, pronouns, and participation in sports teams.
Despite Pope Francis’ efforts to reach out to LGBTQ+ individuals and promote inclusivity within the Church, he has also criticized gender theory as a danger to humanity. The document emphasizes the distinction between biological sex and gender roles, highlighting the interconnectedness of the two. While some have welcomed the condemnation of violence against LGBTQ+ individuals, others have raised concerns about the document’s impact on the LGBTQ+ community’s dignity and rights. The Vatican’s position on gender and sexuality continues to be a point of contention and debate within the Church and wider society.
