US Bishops Vote to Ban Transgender Medical Procedures
Members of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) voted on Wednesday in Baltimore to prohibit transgender medical procedures in Catholic hospitals nationwide.
While many Catholic hospitals had already refrained from offering these procedures, this new resolution solidifies the policy after bishops provided “authoritative guidelines” for these medical facilities. The latest version of the Ethics and Religion Directive for Catholic Health Services passed with 206 votes in favor, eight against, and seven abstentions.
The third section of this updated directive tells Catholic healthcare providers not to perform interventions aimed at altering sexual characteristics to match the opposite sex. It advises healthcare professionals to use all suitable resources to alleviate the suffering experienced by those facing gender nonconformity and gender dysphoria, while still respecting what it refers to as the “fundamental order of the human body.”
The revised guidelines also stipulate that health professionals cannot refer patients who are denied these services to other hospitals that do provide them.
This directive encompasses hormone therapy, psychological counseling, and surgical treatments, with bishops retaining the authority to tailor enforcement in each diocese. Bishop Robert Barron from the Winona-Rochester Diocese emphasized the need for the church to assert a firm stance on gender ideology during discussions.
The initiative aligns with a doctrine titled “Moral Limits to the Technical Manipulation of the Human Body,” acknowledged by the USCCB. The memo recognizes significant advancements in medical care through scientific innovation but argues for careful moral discernment in leveraging these advancements.
It states that physicality, along with characteristics of masculinity and femininity, are essential aspects of human existence. A quote attributed to the late Pope Francis underscores the importance of recognizing the distinction yet inseparability of biological sex and sociocultural gender roles.
The Catholic Health Association of the United States plans to reassess the directive, asserting that it aligns with its ongoing policies, noting that one in seven patients in the U.S. receives care from Catholic hospitals daily. The Association emphasized its commitment to treating individuals who identify as transgender with respect and dignity, adhering to Catholic social teaching and a moral obligation to serve all, particularly marginalized communities.
