Vatican remains steadfast in its stance on social issues such as sex change and surrogacy

The Vatican has recently released a comprehensive 20-page declaration, which has received the approval of Pope Francis. This document addresses various social issues and reiterates the Vatican's stance against "gender theory".

Entitled "Infinite Dignity", this publication emphasizes that God has created man and woman as distinct biological entities. It emphasizes the importance of respecting this divine plan and warns against attempting to "play God" by altering one's gender.

The declaration highlights the potential risks associated with sex-change interventions, stating that such procedures generally jeopardize the unique dignity bestowed upon individuals from the moment of conception.

Furthermore, the document differentiates between transitioning surgeries, which it firmly rejects, and "genital abnormalities" that are either present at birth or develop later in life. It suggests that the latter can be addressed with the assistance of healthcare professionals.

While the declaration firmly rejects "gender theory", it also criticizes countries that criminalize homosexuality. The Vatican's doctrine office, responsible for this document, expresses its concerns regarding such discriminatory practices.

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The statement condemns the imprisonment, torture, and loss of life faced by individuals solely due to their sexual orientation, deeming it a violation of human dignity. It reaffirms the Catholic Church's well-known stance against abortion, euthanasia, and surrogacy, emphasizing that surrogacy undermines the dignity of both the surrogate mother and the child.

This document, which largely consolidates previously expressed Vatican positions, is seen as a gesture towards conservative thinkers within the Catholic Church by Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernandes, the new prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith from Argentina. Cardinal Fernandes, a trusted advisor of Pope Francis, had previously authored a document endorsing blessings for same-sex couples, which drew criticism from conservative bishops worldwide, particularly in Africa.

The release of this document follows Pope Francis' call for a global ban on the "despicable" practice of surrogacy. The pontiff strongly condemned surrogate motherhood as a serious violation of the dignity of women and children, urging the international community to universally prohibit this practice.

During a speech addressing threats to peace and human dignity, Pope Francis also highlighted the war in Ukraine, the Israel-Hamas conflict, the immoral production of nuclear weapons, the escalating climate crisis, and migration.