Vatican clarifies that transgender people can be baptized

The Vatican clarified that a transsexual can be baptized “like other believers” and serve as a godfather or godmother of the sacrament, but “with conditions,” in response to doubts on the matter expressed by a Brazilian bishop.

The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith published on October 31 a text signed by the Pope and his prefect, the Argentine Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernandez, which answers questions about the participation in baptisms and weddings of transgender and homosexual people raised by the Bishop of Santo Amaro José, told the Efe news agency this Wednesday Negri.

The responses, the former Holy Office explains, “substantially repeat the fundamental content of what has already been stated on this issue in the past” by the congregation, citing a December 2018 document on the matter.

First of all, the Vatican responds that “a transsexual who has also undergone hormonal treatment or sex reassignment surgery may be baptized under the same conditions as other believers.”

But so far “there are no situations in which there is a risk of sparking a public scandal or disorienting believers,” he points out, without going into details.

“Children or adolescents with transsexual issues, if they are well prepared and willing, can be baptized,” he notes.

The Dicastery believes that if there are doubts “about the objective moral position” of a person, the Church teaches that “when communion is received without repentance for grave sins, the subject does not receive sanctifying grace, despite receiving its sacramental character.”

The document substantiates this position by citing St. Thomas Aquinas or St. Augustine and recalls that Pope Francis himself defends that baptism “is the door that allows Christ to be established in person” and that the Church “is not a customs house, but a fatherly home where there is a place for everyone.”

The Brazilian bishop’s second question is whether a transsexual can be a godfather or godmother at a baptism.

“Under certain conditions, an adult transsexual who has also undergone hormonal treatment or sex reassignment surgery may be accepted into the role of godfather or godmother,” the document says.

And he adds: “But since this is not a right, pastoral prudence demands that it should not be allowed when there is a danger of scandal, unjustified legitimation or disorientation in the educational sphere of the ecclesial community.”

Regarding the possibility of a transsexual being a witness to a wedding, it is noted that “there is nothing in the current universal canon law that would prohibit a transsexual from being a witness to a wedding.”

The document also answers the question of whether two people of the same sex can be the parents of a child who needs to be baptized and who was adopted or obtained through other methods, such as surrogacy.

On this topic, he explains that “in order for a child to be baptized, there must be a well-founded hope that he will be brought up in the Catholic religion.”

Similarly, in answer to the question of whether a homosexual can sponsor a baptism, it is emphasized that canon law specifies that “godparents or bridesmaids may be those who have an attitude and live in accordance with the faith and the responsibility they accept.” .

“In any case, due pastoral prudence requires that each situation be dealt with wisely in order to protect the sacrament of baptism and, above all, its reception,” it is argued.

And he asks that we consider the “real value” that the church community places on the roles of godfather and godmother, and also consider the “possibility” of someone within the family circle acting as a “guarantor” for the “correct handover.” “Catholic faith to the baptized.

Finally, the Vatican emphasized that “there is nothing in current universal canon law that would prohibit a same-sex person living together from being a witness at a wedding.”