Pope Francis urged to reverse church ban on gender-affirming care

Pope Francis urged to reverse church ban on gender-affirming care

Private Meeting at the Vatican

On October 12, during a private meeting at the Vatican, Pope Francis was urged to reconsider the Catholic Church’s stance against gender-affirming care for transgender individuals. The 80-minute discussion, held at the guesthouse where the pope resides, brought together a diverse group including a Catholic sister involved in LGBTQ outreach, a transgender individual, and a U.S. physician who provides gender-affirming hormone therapy for adults.

Personal Testimony from Transgender Catholic

Michael Sennett, a transgender man from Boston, shared his personal journey with the pope, expressing the joy he finds in being a transgender Catholic. He recounted how hormone replacement therapy and surgeries have helped him feel more at ease with his body. “I really wanted to share with Pope Francis about the joy that I have being a transgender Catholic person,” Sennett said in an interview following the meeting.

A Meeting Off the Official Agenda

The meeting, not listed on the Vatican’s official schedule, involved about a dozen LGBTQ activists. It took place roughly six months after the Vatican’s doctrinal office released a document rejecting gender-affirming care, claiming it could undermine the inherent dignity of individuals from the moment of conception. The statement was met with harsh criticism from LGBTQ groups, who argued that the Vatican had not sought input from transgender people before issuing its decision.

Calls for Inclusive Dialogue

Cynthia Herrick, an endocrinologist from St. Louis who participated in the meeting, emphasized the need for the Church to consult transgender individuals when forming policies related to gender-affirming care. Herrick described the pope as “very receptive” during the conversation, noting his empathetic response and his focus on the well-being of individuals.

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Pope Francis’ Evolving Stance

At 87, Pope Francis has been credited with fostering a more inclusive approach toward LGBTQ individuals within the Catholic Church. While he has permitted priests to bless same-sex couples on a case-by-case basis, his previous remarks on LGBTQ matters have sometimes sparked controversy. Earlier this year, he used a derogatory Italian term for LGBTQ people, for which the Vatican later issued an apology.

Advocacy Group Leads the Way

The event was organized by New Ways Ministry, a U.S. group that advocates for LGBTQ Catholics. Sister Jeannine Gramick, a co-founder of the organization, played a key role in facilitating the meeting. She highlighted that the encounter marked progress in the Church’s relationship with the LGBTQ community, signaling a potential shift toward a more modern stance. “The message really is that we need to listen to the experiences of transgender people,” Gramick said.

Although Gramick’s work has long drawn criticism from both U.S. and Vatican officials, including from the late Pope Benedict XVI, she has built a rapport with Pope Francis, who first met with her last year. The Vatican has yet to comment on the recent meeting.