Vatican: Transsexual people can be baptised Catholic, serve as godparents
Transsexual people can be godparents at Roman Catholic baptisms, witnesses at religious weddings and receive baptism themselves, the Vatican's doctrinal office said on Wednesday, responding to questions from a bishop.
The department, known as the Dicastery of the Doctrine of the Faith, was vague, however, in response to a question about whether a same-sex couple could have a church baptism for an adopted child or one obtained through a surrogate mother.
Bishop Jose Negri of Santo Amaro, Brazil, sent the doctrinal office six questions in July regarding LGBTQ people and their participation in the sacraments of baptism and matrimony.
The three pages of questions and answers were signed by the department's head, Argentine Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernandez, and approved by Pope Francis on October 31. They were posted in Italian on the department's website Wednesday.
Francis, 86, has tried to make the church more welcoming to the LGBTQ community without changing church teachings, including one saying that same-sex attraction is not sinful but same-sex acts are.
In response to a question of whether transsexual people can be baptized, the doctrinal office said they could with some conditions and as long as there is "no risk of causing a public scandal or disorientation among the faithful."
It said a transsexual people could be godparents at a baptism at the discretion of the local priest, as well as a witness at a church wedding, but the local priest should exercise "pastoral prudence" in his decision.
A person in a same-sex relationship could also be a witness at a Catholic wedding, the office said, citing current church canonical legislation that contained no prohibition against it.
The response was less clear regarding persons in same-sex relationships and their role in baptism, which is the initiation into the church for infants, children or adults.
The Brazilian bishop sought guidance on whether a same-sex couple who had adopted a child or obtained it from a surrogate mother could have that child baptized in a Catholic ceremony.
The response said that for the child of a same-sex couple to be baptized, there had to be "a well-founded hope that it would be educated in the Catholic religion."
There was a similarly nuanced response to a question about whether a person in a same-sex relationship could be a godparent at a church baptism. It said the person had to "lead a life that conforms to the faith."
Source: apnews.com
Trending News
Agona West MP Cynthia Mamle Morrison denies reports of rescinding independent candidacy
18:20Bawumia belittles NDC's manufactured 'Majority' in Parliament
12:12Bawumia campaign accuses Mahama of being out of touch with current affairs
09:47Bishop Salifu Amoako, wife, 1 other person charged with allowing 'unlicensed person to drive', granted bail
22:31EC to Finalise certified voter roll for Dec. 7 polls by November
18:55Dec. 7 polls: Vote NPP out NPP for ‘destroying Ghana’ – Ato Forson tells Mankessim residents
11:54Firewood & charcoal: The silent killer in our kitchens – Rev. Mireku
17:44You've disgraced me with your unwarranted attack on journalist – Salifu Amoako tells congregation
14:42PRINPAG launches Code of Ethics to strengthen journalism standards in Ghana
11:12Contact NDC comms team before publishing self-designed NDC ads, paraphernalia – NDC to sympathisers
20:20