Amidst a growing national discourse on transgender rights, a coalition of liberal Protestant and Jewish denominations has publicly declared transgenderism to be “holy.” This declaration follows a recent decision by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) to prohibit transgender procedures in Catholic healthcare institutions.
The announcement came in the form of a statement issued on Wednesday, signed by leaders from The Episcopal Church, the Presbyterian Church (USA), the United Church of Christ (UCC), the Unitarian Universalist Association, the Union for Reform Judaism, and an association of Quakers, among others. The statement aimed to counteract what was described as a “disgraceful misconception” regarding the stance of people of faith on gender diversity.
“Let it be known instead that our beloveds are created in the image of God — Holy and whole,” the statement affirmed concerning individuals identifying as transgender.
The document emphasized that various scriptures, despite their differences, share a commitment to justice and giving a voice to those who are silenced. It highlighted the shared belief that all are children of God and called for hope during challenging times.
Further asserting that opposing transgenderism is sinful, the statement reiterated the belief in the intrinsic holiness of transgender, nonbinary, and intersex individuals. This notion aligns with the only attribute of God repeated thrice in the Bible.
The declaration of solidarity stated, “Transgender, nonbinary, and intersex people are vulnerable today. Our faiths, our theologies, and our practices of prophetic witness call on us to say with one voice to transgender people among us: ‘You are holy. You are sacred. We love you. We support you, and we will protect you.'”
This interfaith statement was primarily authored by Rev. Sofía Betancourt of the Unitarian Universalist Association, a religious movement traced back to the 19th century, which denies traditional Christian doctrines such as the Trinity and original sin. Betancourt, a Yale Divinity School educator, identifies as a “queer, multiracial, AfroLatine first-generation daughter of immigrants from Chile and Panamá,” with her teachings focused on combating oppression and promoting justice.
The statement was issued in reaction to a significant vote by U.S. Catholic bishops, who overwhelmingly endorsed changes to the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services. These revisions, forming the framework for Catholic healthcare providers, effectively ban transgender procedures, aligning with prior Vatican guidance and a 2023 USCCB doctrinal note titled “Moral Limits to the Technological Manipulation of the Human Body.”
The USCCB’s note 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.” The directives have a wide-reaching impact, considering Catholic hospitals treat more than one in seven U.S. patients, especially in rural communities.
During discussions about the directives, Bishop Robert Barron of Winona-Rochester, Minnesota, urged the church to take a definitive stand on gender ideology, which he described as a matter of moral importance, as reported by The Associated Press.
This article was originally written by www.christianpost.com
