Current Events > Vatican says transgender people can be baptized...if it doesn't cause scandal...

(+) Yeah! (+)

...or "disorientation" amongst other Catholics:

In the United States, the national conference of Catholic bishops rejects the concept of gender transition, leaving many transgender Catholics feeling excluded. On Wednesday, the Vatican made public a sharply contrasting statement, saying its permissible, under certain circumstances, for trans people to be baptized as Catholics and serve as godparents.

It is a major step for trans inclusion it is big and good news, said Francis DeBernardo, executive director of Maryland-based New Ways Ministry, which advocates for greater LGBTQ acceptance in the church.

The document was signed Oct. 21 by Pope Francis and Cardinal Vctor Manuel Fernndez, who heads the Vaticans Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith. It was posted Wednesday on that offices website.

If it did not cause scandal or disorientation among other Catholics, a transgender person may receive baptism under the same conditions as other faithful, the document said.

Similarly, the document said trans adults even if they had undergone gender-transition surgery could serve as godfathers or godmothers under certain conditions.

DeBernardo said this seemed to be a reversal of a 2015 Vatican decision to bar a trans man in Spain from becoming a godparent.

During his papacy, Pope Francis has frequently expressed an interest in making the Catholic Church more welcoming to LGBTQ people, even though doctrines rejecting same-sex marriage and sexual activity remain firmly in place.

A small but growing number of U.S. parishes have formed LGBTQ support groups and welcome transgender people on their own terms. Yet several Catholic dioceses have issued guidelines targeting trans people with restrictions and refusing to recognize their gender identity.

The Rev. James Martin, a Jesuit priest who has advocated for years for greater LGBTQ inclusion in the church, welcomed the new document.

In many dioceses and parishes, including in the US, transgender Catholics have been severely restricted from participating in the life of the church, not because of any canon law, but stemming from the decisions of bishops, priests and pastoral associates, he said via email.

So the Vaticans statement is a clear recognition not only of their personhood, but of their place in their own church, he said. I hope that it helps the Catholic church treat them less as problems and more as people.

According to the Vatican, the document was a response to a letter submitted in July by a Brazilian bishop asking about LGBTQ peoples possible participation in baptisms and weddings.

DeBernardo said the document proves that the Catholic Church can and does change its mind about certain practices and policies, and he suggested that some diocesan anti-trans policies might now have to be rescinded. But he expressed disappointment that the document maintained a ban on same-sex couples serving as godparents.

https://apnews.com/article/vatican-transgender-catholic-baptism-godparents-82120d853570ec92f4db1cbf11ebc2f1

Anyone can be baptized. Literally just sprinkle some water on a dude's head. It doesn't fucking matter

In other words, trans people can't be baptized because their existence is a "scandal" to certain types.

Also, isn't baptism basically a public announcement that "Hey, I'm all in on this God business!". Imagine telling a fellow believer "No, you can't."

People who aren't transphobic asshats: "Can transgender people be baptized?"

Pope Francis:

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/3/35b67216.jpg

lilORANG posted...

Anyone can be baptized. Literally just sprinkle some water on a dude's head. It doesn't fucking matter

They sprinkle that water on your head and they own your soul for all eternity though even if you never go to church again in your life, its kind of a bad deal. Its why I'm considered an "apostate".

Religion needs to fuck off

Well who wouldn't want to be baptized into such a welcoming community?

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/1/175c62e6.jpg

SpawnShadow posted...

People who aren't transphobic asshats: "Can transgender people be baptized?"

Pope Francis:

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/3/35b67216.jpg

Its more like them telling liberal Catholic churches they are free to do it while trying to prevent a schism from the right wing churches (That are already practically ready to try to elect their own pope because of the "left wing" current pope). Its them trying to have their cake and eat it too.

Matt Walsh is seething right now isn't he

r/Catholicism is the most toxic of the Christian subreddits

__aCEr__ posted...

Well who wouldn't want to be baptized into such a welcoming community?

Not exactly red carpet treatment.