Pope Francis met with a group of transgender and intersex Catholics and LGBTQ allies at the Vatican on Sunday.
During the meeting, participants shared personal stories and called on the Pope to support greater acceptance within the Church and address the Church’s stance on gender-affirming care.
Sister Janine Gramic, one of the co-founders of New Ways Ministries, a U.S.-based Catholic organization that advocates for LGBTQ people, performed at Francis’ residence, Casa Santa Marta, in Vatican City. Arranged a meeting to be held.
The delegation that met with the pope included Nicole Santamaria, an intersex woman, Michael Sennett, a trans man, and Cynthia Herrick, a doctor who works at a gender medicine clinic. For more than an hour, they detailed to Francis their struggles with depression and suicide during their transition, and highlighted the positive impact of gender-affirming care.
Francis DeBernardo, executive director of the Ministry of New Paths, who was present at the meeting, said that although Francis did not react vocally, he was “in deep pain” as he listened to people’s accounts of suffering while clutching a cross. “I was nodding my head emphatically at what they were saying,” he said. They talked about how the transition into medicine was positive for them. ”
“He was really grateful to them. He was so grateful for this opportunity,” DeBernardo said.
The Pope’s direct dialogue with transgender and intersex people was prompted by the Vatican’s publication of the Dignitas Infinata. Declaration in April. While the document emphasized the need for respect and dignity for all people, it also condemned gender-affirming health care as incompatible with human dignity.
Gramic, who corresponds with the Pope and met with members of the New Ways Ministry last year, was disappointed by the declaration and proposed, and agreed, to hear first-hand experiences from transgender and intersex Catholics. .
“Part of the problem is that the Vatican’s document does not consult transgender and intersex people or the medical professionals who work with them. So we urge the Pope to consult more people and We were encouraging people to listen to their stories,” DeBernardo said.
Participants in the meeting were joined by more than 20 U.S. Catholic bishops earlier this year as part of New Ways Ministries’ efforts to educate church leaders about the experiences of LGBTQ people and advocate for full LGBTQ acceptance. A group of people shared their personal testimonies.
During their meeting, Gramic stressed to Francis that other Vatican officials also need to listen to the voices of LGBTQ people. DeBernardo said the Pope was in full agreement with the proposal.
By accepting the invitation to meet with this group and listening to the experiences of transgender and intersex people, Francis is setting a precedent for other church leaders to engage more meaningfully with the LGBTQ community, DeBernardo said. I believe it was done intentionally.
The Catholic Church condemns all same-sex sexual relations and rejects same-sex marriage. But under Francis, the church has generally adopted a more inclusive stance toward LGBTQ people. Vatican last year In 2015, it lifted the absolute ban on transgender godparents and authorized priests to bless same-sex couples. — But homosexual unions are not.
Two African LGBTQ activists, Claire Byargaba of Chapter 4 Uganda and Ebenezer Piga, director of Rightify Ghana, met with Francisco in August.
Source: Washington Blade: LGBTQ News, Politics, LGBTQ Rights, Gay News – www.washingtonblade.com
