Same-Sex Couple Blessings: Pope Reaffirms Stance Against Gender Transition, Others

The Vatican has released a new declaration titled “Dignitas infinita” (Infinite Dignity), emphasizing its long-held positions on gender identity, surrogate motherhood, abortion, and euthanasia.

This comes just months after the Vatican expressed support for blessing same-sex unions, a move that received mixed reactions globally, with significant pushback from conservative factions, particularly in Africa.

The “Dignitas infinita” declaration, crafted by the Vatican’s doctrinal office under Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernandez, underwent extensive review over five years, culminating in a comprehensive document that Pope Francis has endorsed. The Pope’s request broadened the scope of the declaration to include issues such as poverty, migration, violence against women, human trafficking, and war, reflecting a holistic approach to human dignity.

Central to the declaration is a firm stance against surrogate parenthood, which the document claims undermines the dignity of both the surrogate mother and the child. Pope Francis has previously condemned surrogacy as “despicable,” advocating for a worldwide prohibition.

The Vatican’s document also addresses gender theory, challenging the notion of gender as a fluid and personal determination. It argues that such views conflict with the belief in human life as a divine gift, likening the pursuit of self-determined gender identity to an attempt to usurp God’s role.

Regarding sex changes, the declaration maintains that interventions aimed at altering one’s sex typically pose a threat to the person’s inherent dignity from conception. However, it distinguishes between such procedures and surgeries performed to correct genital abnormalities, not considering the latter as sex changes.

Despite its firm positions, the Vatican acknowledges the injustices faced by individuals based on sexual orientation, condemning acts of imprisonment, torture, and killing. Additionally, the declaration reiterates the Vatican’s opposition to abortion, euthanasia, and the death penalty, aligning with the teachings of Pope Francis and his predecessors.