The Doctrinal Committee of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) issued on 20 March a 14-page firm doctrinal note on the “Moral Limits to Technological Manipulation of the Human Body”.
It sets out clearly the prohibition on “manipulating” or mutilating the bodies of people, especially young people, with the aim of changing sex, stating: “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.”
This is a welcome statement from the bishops which should put to rest any suggestions that the Catholic Church could support any such surgeries which are always and everywhere harmful to the patient, the natural order, and the created order of God.
The bishops explain that, “A fundamental tenet of the Christian faith is that there is an order in the natural world that was designed by its Creator and that this created order is good (Gen 1:31; Ps 19:1ff.). The Church has always affirmed the essential goodness of the natural order and called on us to respect it.”
It continues: “What is true of creation as a whole is true of human nature in particular: there is an order in human nature that we are called to respect. In fact, human nature deserves utmost respect since humanity occupies a singular place in the created order, being created in the image of God (Gen.1:27).
“To find fulfilment as human persons, to find true happiness, we must respect that order. We did not create human nature; it is a gift from a loving Creator. Nor do we ‘own’ our human nature, as if it were something that we are free to make use of in any way we please. Thus, genuine respect for human dignity requires that decisions about the use of technology be guided by genuine respect for this created order.”
The bishops continue to explain that “a crucial aspect of the order of nature created by God is the body-soul unity of each human person”. The Church has always rejected the “dualistic conceptions of the human person that do not regard the body as an intrinsic part of the human person”. As such “a soul can never be in another body, much less be in the wrong body”. As well as this, “human bodiliness is intrinsically connected with human sexual differentiation”. Male and female he created them. Indeed, as arch-atheist Richard Dawkins said on TV recently: “as a biologist, there are two sexes.”
Here we can see how wrong it is then, from both a theological and a biological point of view, the idea that someone can be “born in the wrong body”. No person is born in the wrong body, as their body and soul are one. Sadly, some people may indeed suffer from gender dysphoria, a deep conflict with their biological sex. This must be a terrible mental health condition, but it must be recognised as such. There is nothing wrong with the body of the person who suffers from gender dysphoria – their body does not need to be manipulating. Instead, appropriate support must be given to this person to come to terms with the fact that they are either male or female. Manipulating the appearance of their body will never alter this scientific reality.
As the bishops point out, “being man or being woman is a reality which is good and willed by God”. This is why we must reject the entire notion of transgenderism or “trans rights”, all of which emanate from the extreme academic discipline of gender theory. The aim of gender theory has always been to upset the natural order of things, to confuse the male and female, and indeed to say there is no such thing as male and female. As Dawkins replied, when Piers Morgan put it to him that some people say there are 100 genders: “I’m not interested in that”. Nor should any of us be.
The bishops explain that “there are only two scenarios recognised by the Church’s moral tradition in which technological interventions on the human body may be morally justified: 1) when such interventions aim to repair a defect in the body; 2) when the sacrifice of a part of the body is necessary for the welfare of the whole body”. They go on to explain that neither surgical nor chemical techniques that aim to change the sex characteristics of a patient’s body for those of the opposite sex or for simulations thereof, or indeed puberty blockers, can be justified as an ethical medical intervention.
The bishops make it very clear that such interventions are not permissible in Catholic teaching:
“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.
“They must employ all appropriate resources to mitigate the suffering of those who struggle with gender incongruence, but the means used must respect the fundamental order of the human body. Only by using morally appropriate means do healthcare providers show full respect for the dignity of each human person.”
They add, “Particular care should be taken to protect children and adolescents, who are still maturing and who are not capable of providing informed consent”.
This is a very welcome intervention into the transgender conflict that is raging in the United States and should give clarity to anyone deluded enough to think mutilating the bodies of children could ever be deemed ethical or moral.
President Biden, in particular, should take note that what the Bishops are saying is in complete conflict with his own government proposals.
This page is available to subscribers. Click here to sign in or get access.
Areas of Catholic Herald business are still recovering post-pandemic.
However, we are reaching out to the Catholic community and readership, that has been so loyal to the Catholic Herald. Please join us on our 135 year mission by supporting us.
We are raising £250,000 to safeguard the Herald as a world-leading voice in Catholic journalism and teaching.
We have been a bold and influential voice in the church since 1888, standing up for traditional Catholic culture and values. Please consider donating.