Vatican condemns gender surgery, surrogacy as dignity threats

On Monday, the Vatican expressed strong opposition to gender-affirming surgeries and surrogacy, labeling them as significant violations of human dignity. These practices were equated with abortion and euthanasia, being described as contraventions of divine intentions for human existence.

The declaration, titled “Infinite Dignity” and spanning 20 pages, was the result of a five-year development process, recently receiving approval from Pope Francis for its publication on March 25.

The document specifically criticizes the notion of gender fluidity, affirming the belief in God’s creation of men and women as distinct biological entities. It argues against altering one’s gender, suggesting that such actions could threaten the inherent dignity bestowed upon individuals from conception.

However, the Vatican made a clear distinction between rejecting gender-affirming procedures and addressing congenital or acquired genital anomalies, which it suggests can be ethically treated by medical professionals.

This stance, hinted at since 2019, was confirmed by Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, a close advisor to Pope Francis and the newly appointed head of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith.

The document also critiques the criminalization of homosexuality in some countries, reflecting Pope Francis’s view that homosexuality is not a crime, thus incorporating this belief into the Vatican’s doctrinal stance.

Moreover, while reiterating the Catholic Church’s opposition to abortion and euthanasia, “Infinite Dignity” extends its discourse to include Pope Francis’s concerns over poverty, war, human trafficking, and forced migration as threats to human dignity.

A new position is articulated against surrogacy, arguing it compromises the dignity of both the surrogate mother and the child. The document emphasizes that the right to a child should not override the child’s dignity as a recipient of life.

This recent document follows the Vatican’s 2019 declaration from the Congregation for Catholic Education, which opposed the idea of gender choice or change and underscored the complementarity of male and female sexes for procreation.

Although Pope Francis has extended outreach to the LGBTQ+ community, he has simultaneously criticized gender theory as a significant threat to human distinction between genders. The latest document attempts to balance these views by distinguishing but not separating biological sex and gender, a stance met with criticism from transgender and nonbinary individuals for lacking inclusivity and understanding of their experiences.

The publication emerges amidst increasing legislative actions in various countries, including the United States, aimed at restricting transgender rights and healthcare, highlighting a broader social and political contention surrounding transgender issues.