The Pope’s Christmas Condemnation Of Transsexuals
December 25th, 2008 by Autumn SandeenPretty much right after I came out to my Mom as a transsexual — a transgender woman — my Mom entered an Orthodox Christian monastery as a novice nun. I was never quite sure if my coming out wasn’t the “last straw” event that led her to join the monastery; however, she left her particular order about a year-and-a-half after joining it.
For those who aren’t aware, the Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church split in 1057 over the idea of a Pope being in charge of the church — the Orthodox and Catholic Churches are pretty similar in their approach to Christianity otherwise.
Within this past year, my Mom converted to Catholicism, so she has chosen to embrace a church where I believe the doctrine states that the Pope is infallible — at least, as a non-Catholic, that’s how I understand the doctrine to be. Does my Mom believe the Pope is infallible, or at a minimum speaks with tremendous spiritual authority? I have no idea — I never asked her what her thoughts are on the subject of her faith regarding the Pope.
But, with that thought of an infallible Pope in mind and my Mom’s recent conversion to Catholicism, perhaps I let things news like this get to me a bit too much: The Pope’s Christmas message included the message that the world needs to be protected against gays and transsexuals.
Without actually using the word, Benedict took a subtle swipe at those who might undergo sex-change operations or otherwise attempt to alter their God-given gender. Defend “the nature of man against its manipulation,” Benedict told the priests, bishops and cardinals gathered Monday in the ornate Clementine hall. “The Church speaks of the human being as man and woman, and asks that this order is respected.” The Pope again denounced the contemporary idea that gender is a malleable definition. That path, he said, leads to a “self-emancipation of man from creation and the Creator.”
This goes a bit beyond what the Catholic Church has said about transsexuals in the past (here, here, and here).
So, Merry Christmas, gays and transsexuals, from the Pope!
Posted in Christianity, transgender, transition, transsexual | 3 Comments »
December 25th, 2008 at 5:48 pm
Doctrine is that when the Pope speaks “Ex Cathedra” – from the chair – he’s infallible. Such Ex Cathedra pronouncements are rare.
A talk to the Curia on the other hand, merely has Papal Authority, so by Doctrine is as fallible as any other talk by anyone else.
December 27th, 2008 at 12:52 am
Zoe Brain, thanks for pointing that out. I feel it’s all much ado about nothing, as the opinion of an 81-year-old man from a church with less and less influence will not persuade governments to take away our right to gender expression. I can’t see Canadian Prime Minister Harper or Quebec Premier Jean Charest doing a U-turn on this because of the pope’s speech, no matter how accurately or inaccurately it was interpreted by the media.
Fear note: the pope cannot hurt us.
Cheers
Jillian, from Canada
January 31st, 2009 at 9:32 am
I don’t understand why gays and transsexuals keep attacking the Pope. In his speech his Holiness didn’t mention transsexuals or homosexuals with one single word. One must focus on the positive things the Church has done for the society and not on the interpritations of the media.