(ZENIT News / Washington, 06.22.2024).- The Committee on Canonical Affairs and Church Governance of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) is crafting a pivotal document addressing the pastoral care of LGBT+ individuals. This document will explore whether individuals who identify as transgender can be admitted to religious life within the Catholic Church. This initiative responds to an increasing number of inquiries from bishops, as explained by Monsignor Thomas Paprocki, the committee chair and bishop of the Diocese of Springfield, Illinois.
The question of including transgender individuals in religious life gained prominence last May when a biologically female individual publicly identifying as transgender was accepted as a hermit in the Diocese of Lexington, Kentucky. This case sparked significant interest and led many bishops to seek guidance on handling similar situations in the future. During a press conference at the USCCB’s spring assembly on June 14, Archbishop Timothy Broglio, president of the conference, confirmed that the issue had been deliberated at the committee level.
Bishop Paprocki reaffirmed the Catholic Church’s stance, supported by Pope Francis, against «gender ideology.» He referenced the Book of Genesis, stating, «God created them male and female,» and emphasized that any deviation from this biblical teaching is incompatible with Catholic beliefs.
While Bishop Paprocki refrained from discussing the Kentucky hermit’s case in detail, he clarified that living a consecrated solitary life does not exempt one from adhering to Church teachings. According to Paprocki, a hermit is expected to live according to the Bible and Church doctrines, and rejecting these fundamental teachings could disqualify someone from consecrated life.
The forthcoming document, anticipated for release this fall, will build on a 2021 memorandum by Archbishop Jerome Listecki, Paprocki’s predecessor on the committee. Listecki had suggested that bishops consider requiring DNA tests or physical exams to ensure that seminary candidates are biologically male.
Archbishop Broglio noted that the issue of the transgender hermit has not been addressed in the general assembly of bishops but has been a point of concern within some committee levels. He highlighted the necessity of honesty and proper preparation in discerning a religious vocation, indicating that the discussion is still in its early stages.
With this new document, the USCCB aims to provide clear and pastoral guidance on addressing gender identity within the context of religious life, ensuring that Church teachings and pastoral care are upheld.
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