The Vatican has explained that a transsexual can be baptized “like the rest of the faithful” and serve as godfather or godmother of this sacrament but “with conditions”, in a response to the doubts on this matter from a Brazilian bishop.
The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has published a text signed on October 31 by the pope and his prefect, Argentine cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, to answer questions about participation in baptisms and weddings of transsexual and homosexual people raised by the bishop of Santo Amaro, José Negri.
The answers, the old Holy Office clarifies, “repropose, to a large extent, the fundamental contents of what has already been affirmed on this matter in the past” by the Congregation, alluding to a document on the issue from December 2018.
First of all, the Vatican responds that “a transsexual, who has also undergone hormonal treatment or sex reassignment surgery, can receive baptism under the same conditions as the rest of the faithful.”
But as long as “there are no situations in which there is a risk of generating public scandal or disorienting the faithful,” he points out without giving more details.
“In the case of children or adolescents with problems of a transsexual nature, if they are well prepared and willing, they can receive baptism,” he points out.
The Congregation considers that when there are doubts “about the objective moral situation” of a person, the Church teaches that “when the sacrament is received without repentance for serious sins, the subject does not receive sanctifying grace despite receiving its sacramental character.”
The document justifies this position by citing Saint Thomas Aquinas or Saint Augustine and recalls that Pope Francis himself defends that baptism “is the door that allows Christ to establish himself in the person” and that the Church “is not a customs office but a house.” fatherhood where there is room for everyone”.
The second question from the Brazilian bishop is whether a transsexual can be a godfather or godmother at a baptism.
“Under certain conditions, the role of godfather or godmother may be accepted for an adult transsexual who has also undergone hormonal treatment or sex reassignment surgery,” the document states.
And he adds: “However, since this does not constitute a right, pastoral prudence requires that it not be allowed when there is a danger of scandal, improper legitimation or disorientation in the educational sphere of the ecclesial community.”
And regarding whether a transsexual can be a witness at a wedding, it is noted that “there is nothing in the current universal canonical legislation that prohibits a transsexual person from being a witness to a marriage.”
