By John Mack Freeman
A ruling by the Vatican this past week made it impossible for trans people to officially become a new baby’s godparents. Via Advocate.com:
Alex Salinas, 21, was denied the opportunity by his local church because he is transgender. Bishop Rafael Zornoza Boy of the diocese of Cádiz and Ceuta, overturned the decision after an appeal by Salinas, but also referred the matter to the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith for further clarification. Citing “confusion among some of the faithful” and “the complexity and media attention garnered by this issue,” the bishop asked the church’s doctrine-enforcing judges to render a final judgement.
The Vatican’s report says being transgender “reveals in a public way an attitude opposite to the moral imperative of solving the problem of sexual identity according to the truth of one’s own sexuality. Therefore it is evident that this person does not possess the requirement of leading a life according to the faith and in the position of godfather and is therefore unable to be admitted to the position of godfather or godmother.”
It should be noted that although Pope Francis has been repeatedly praised for his softer stance towards LGB people since assuming the papacy, that softness has not extended to trans people. The Vatican has routinely slapped down calls for change in this area.
