Vatican Allows Transgender and Homosexual People to be Baptised and to be Godparents

The Vatican's Department of Doctrine released a document clarifying the inclusion of transgender and homosexual people in the Sacraments of Baptism and Marriage.

This is a written response to the Bishop of Santo Amaro (Brazil), Monsignor José Negri, who asked for clarification of the Church's teaching on this topic.

The document, signed by the prefect of the department, Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernandes, and approved by Pope Francis, states that transgender people, even if they have undergone hormone therapy or sex reassignment surgery, whether adults, children or adolescents, can be baptised, provided they are "well prepared and willing, and that there is no risk of public scandal or disorientation among other believers".

The Church teaches that when the Sacrament of Baptism is "received without repentance for grave sins, the recipient does not receive sanctifying grace, although he receives a sacramental character," as we read in the Catechism. The indelible character "remains forever in the Christian as a positive attitude towards grace".

Quoting St Thomas and St Augustine, the Dicastery reminds us that Christ continues to seek the sinner, and when repentance comes, the sacramental character already obtained immediately sets him up to receive grace.

Therefore, according to the document, Pope Francis has repeatedly said that the Church is not a "customs office" and, especially with regard to baptism, the doors should not be closed to anyone.

The question of whether a transgender person can be a godfather or godmother at a baptism is more complicated. The Dicastery said that this "may be permitted under certain conditions".

The question was also raised as to whether children of homosexual parents could be baptised even if they were adopted or conceived through other methods, such as surrogacy.

The Dicastery replied: "In order for a child to be baptised, there must be a reasonable expectation that he or she will be brought up in the Catholic religion," citing the Code of Canon Law.

The document then considered the case of a homosexual couple living together who are asked to be godparents. The Dicastery noted that in order to be a godparent, a person must lead "a life consistent with the faith and the task they undertake".

The full text of the document is available here.

Earlier, Pope Francis said he was open to blessing same-sex couples.

Later, it became known that a Polish bishop resigned due to a scandal involving a church sex party with a male prostitute and erection pills.