catholicworldreport.com
2023-07-15
Catholics are divided about what to think of the transgender movement.
On the one hand, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops warns Catholics against attempts to redesign God's creation through medical interventions such as puberty blockers and surgeries; and the bishops call on adults to "protect children and adolescents" from such life-altering interventions.
On the other hand, some Catholics think that children need to be protected from interfering adults who would keep them from realizing their supposed potential to become the opposite sex.
And some Catholics apparently believe that any criticism and questioning of transgenderism is contrary to Catholic teaching. Fr. James Martin, SJ, accepts that being "transgender" is normal and that repentance from public declarations of being such is unnecessary and wrong because they are "children of God." While such language is increasingly common, it is broad brushed and misleading, as only those who are baptized and in a state of grace of children of God (cf CCC 1265ff, Jn 1:12; 1 Jn 3:1ff).
There is also the broad assumption that criticism is a sign of anger and hatred. In a recent article for America, Cardinal Robert McElroy wrote, "It is a demonic mystery of the human soul why so many men and women have a profound and visceral animus toward members of the LGBT communities."
What McElroy either doesn't understand or ignores is that any animus is directed not at gender-confused individuals, but at the destructive ideological movement that has captured their minds and, in many cases, damaged their bodies. As a Cardinal, he is obliged to uphold Church teaching on sexuality. Yet, he is saying, in effect, that young people should feel free to reject those teachings should their conscience or experience tell them otherwise.