New Doctrinal Note from Vatican Condemns Gender Theory and Gender-Affirming Surgery
The Vatican has declared gender theory, gender-affirming surgery, and surrogacy as serious violations of human dignity that reject God’s plan for human life.
The highly anticipated doctrinal note “Dignitas Infinita: on Human Dignity” was recently approved by Pope Francis, emphasizing concerns about new rights based on sex and gender and upholding long-standing Catholic teachings on social and moral issues (pdf).
The 20-page document states, “The Church’s Magisterium has developed a deeper understanding of human dignity, recognizing that it prevails beyond all circumstances.”
Identifying various threats to human dignity, the document mentions surrogacy, abortion, human trafficking, sexual abuse, violence against women, euthanasia, and the refugee crisis.
Rejecting Gender Theory
The document firmly rejects gender theory, stating that it envisions a society without sexual differences, undermining the anthropological basis of the family.
It emphasizes the importance of acknowledging and accepting the difference between man and woman for each person to discover their identity and dignity.
It also emphasizes that sex change surgeries and interventions that alter a person’s gender go against the unique dignity they received from conception.
Surrogacy
The Vatican opposes surrogacy, calling it an exploitation of a woman’s dignity and the child’s worth, turning them into objects.
It expresses concern about the violation of the child’s dignity and the woman’s dignity in surrogacy practices.
LGBTQ Community Response
Some members of the LGBTQ community within the Catholic Church have criticized the document, viewing it as harmful and outdated, particularly in its treatment of gender-diverse individuals.
Despite the criticism, the Vatican has reiterated its stance on gender, emphasizing the complementary nature of male and female sex organs for procreation.
While urging greater outreach to LGBT Catholics, the Vatican has condemned legislation and violence targeting the LGBTQ community as offenses against human dignity.
Although Pope Francis has emphasized reaching out to LGBT individuals, he has voiced concerns about gender theory, which he sees as a threat to humanity, attempting to erase the inherent differences between men and women.
