In a document released Wednesday, the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith acknowledged that transgender believers can be baptized if it does not cause scandal or confusion.
The document, produced in response to questions from a Brazilian bishop and approved by Pope Francis, also does not object to the baptism of children of same-sex couples.
True, such baptisms have also taken place in various dioceses around the world.
However, by fixing this position in black and white, the Vatican appears to be emphasizing the importance of the vision of a church that is “open to all” expressed by the Pope since taking office in 2013.
“It’s definitely a step towards a more inclusive church and a reminder that transgender Catholics are not only human, but also Catholic,” US Jesuit priest James Martin, who is also a well-known advocate for the LGBT community, told AFP.
“They are strictly excluded in many parishes and dioceses. I hope that with this decision of the Vatican, it will be easier for them to feel part of what, after all, is also their church.”
The Vatican’s announcement “is in line with the teaching of Pope Francis,” said Jean-Michel Dinan, founder of the French Bethanie Community, which serves homosexual and transgender believers.
2023-11-11 14:03:35
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