Religious groups slam US bishops’ decision to ban gender-affirming care at Catholic hospitals
A person holding a sign that says ‘gender-affirming care saves lives.’ (Getty)
A person holding a sign that says 'gender-affirming care saves lives.' (Getty)
Several religious leaders in America have criticised US Catholic bishops for voting to ban gender-affirming care at Catholic hospitals.
According to NPR, the bishops approved the revision to their ethical and religious directives on Wednesday (12 November), but will have autonomy in making the directives into law for their dioceses.
The Catholic Health Association welcomed the revision and thanked bishops for including its feedback into the directives.
It said in a statement: “Catholic providers will continue to welcome those who seek medical care from us and identify as transgender. We will continue to treat these individuals with dignity and respect, which is consistent with Catholic social teaching and our moral obligation to serve everyone, particularly those who are marginalized.”
The updated guidelines include earlier documents on gender identity from the Vatican in 2024 and the US bishops in 2023.
In the 2023 doctrinal note, titled “Moral Limits to the Technological Manipulation of the Human Body,” the bishops stated: “Catholic health care services must not perform interventions, whether surgical or chemical, that aim to transform the sexual characteristics of a human body into those of the opposite sex, or take part in the development of such procedures.”
Michael Sennett, a trans man who is active in his Massachusetts parish, said: “Catholic teaching upholds the invaluable dignity of every human life, and for many trans people, gender-affirming care is what makes life liveable.”
“Our beloveds are created in the image of God”
Coinciding with the bishops’ decision, heads of several major religious denominations issued a statement in support of the trans community.
The religious leaders, including heads of the Unitarian Universalist Association and the Episcopal Church, the Union for Reform Judaism, said in the statement: “During a time when our country is placing their lives under increasingly serious threat, there is a disgraceful misconception that all people of faith do not affirm the full spectrum of gender – a great many of us do.
“Let it be known instead that our beloveds are created in the image of God – Holy and whole.”
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