U.S. Catholic Bishops Enforce Ban on Gender-Affirming Care in Catholic Hospitals
In a decisive move, U.S. Catholic bishops have voted to officially prohibit gender-affirming care for transgender patients in Catholic hospitals. This decision marks a culmination of years of deliberation by the U.S. church on how to address transgender health care issues.
During a gathering held in a Baltimore hotel ballroom, the bishops approved changes to their ethical and religious guidelines, which oversee the operations of various Catholic health care facilities across the nation.
According to the Catholic Health Association, over one in seven patients in the United States receive care at Catholic hospitals, which, in some areas, are the only available medical facilities.
While major medical organizations endorse gender-affirming care, the majority of Catholic health institutions have traditionally taken a conservative stance, refraining from offering such treatments. The new directives will solidify this approach, granting bishops the discretion to enforce these guidelines in their dioceses.
“With regard to the gender ideology, I think it’s very important the church makes a strong statement here,” remarked Bishop Robert Barron of the Winona-Rochester diocese in Minnesota during the public discourse on the updated directives.
The Catholic Health Association expressed gratitude towards the bishops for considering their input in the directives. The organization stated, “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 revised guidelines integrate previous Vatican and U.S. bishops’ documents on gender identity. A doctrinal note from 2023 titled “Moral Limits to the Technological Manipulation of the Human Body” states that Catholic health services should not engage in procedures that alter sexual characteristics or assist in their development.
Progressive Religious Voices Respond
The stance of the Catholic Church on transgender rights is not uniform. Some parishes and priests are welcoming to trans Catholics, while others are less so.
“Catholic teaching upholds the invaluable dignity of every human life, and for many trans people, gender-affirming care is what makes life livable,” said Michael Sennett, a Massachusetts parishioner who is actively involved in the church.
Sennett is a board member of New Ways Ministry, an organization advocating for LGBTQ+ inclusion within the Catholic Church. In 2024, the group organized a meeting with Pope Francis to discuss the importance of gender-affirming care.
Francis DeBernardo, executive director of New Ways Ministry, stated that for many transgender Catholics, transitioning is not just a biological requirement but also a spiritual necessity.
The same day U.S. Catholic bishops deliberated on gender identity, progressive religious leaders from denominations such as the Unitarian Universalist Association and the Episcopal Church issued a statement in support of transgender, intersex, and nonbinary individuals.
“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,” they declared.
U.S. Bishops United in Their Concern for Immigrants
Concluding their assembly in Baltimore, Catholic bishops collectively endorsed a “special message” regarding immigration. Such declarations are rare, the last being in 2013 in response to the Obama administration’s contraception coverage mandate.
Individually, Catholic leaders have criticized Trump administration’s immigration policies, which have instilled fear and reduced Mass participation in some parishes. Clergy members are working to provide sacraments to detained immigrants.
“We are disturbed when we see among our people a climate of fear and anxiety around questions of profiling and immigration enforcement,” reads the bishops’ statement. “We are saddened by the state of contemporary debate and the vilification of immigrants. We are concerned about the conditions in detention centers and the lack of access to pastoral care.”
In a show of unity, several bishops, including Oklahoma City Archbishop Paul Coakley, the newly elected president of the conference, spoke in favor of the statement. Coakley emphasized the need for a balanced approach, urging lawmakers and the administration to reform the immigration system meaningfully.
Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich suggested stronger language regarding mass deportation, highlighting it as a major concern. The bishops agreed, updating the text to oppose “indiscriminate mass deportation of people.”
This article was originally written by www.npr.org
