catholic resources for gender dysphoria

Transgenderism is a growing concern for the Church as more and more parents and kids are convinced to take part in gender treatments from a young age. Visibility Announcement at Dowling Catholic High School, April 5, 2022 For more than a year, a dedicated task force in the Des Moines Diocese has been drafting policies, pastoral counsel and support strategies for accompanying persons presenting with gender dysphoria and other challenges relevant to sexual identity. Moreover, there is a real possibility that some might dismiss any attempt to justify care and treatment of persons with gender dysphoria within the parameters of Catholic teaching on the grounds that such patients may support this ideology and be a cause of theological scandal. It is not defined by stagnant ontological strictures, but rather is defined over time as persons relate to others and to their environment. As the principle by which a human person exists, the soul by itself does not have the individual materiality of a person's sex. Ann P. Haas, Philip L. Rodgers, and Jody L. Herman, Gunter Heylens, Els Elaut, Baudewijntje P. C. Kreukels, Muirne C. S. Paap, Susanne Cerwenka, Hertha Richter-Appelt, Peggy T. Cohen-Kettenis, Ira R. Haraldsen and Griet De Cuypere, "Psychiatric Characteristics in Transsexual Individuals: Multicentre Study in Four European Countries,", Walter O. Bockting, Michael H. Miner, Rebecca E. Swinburne Romine, Autumn Hamilton, and Eli Coleman, "Stigma, Mental Health, and Resilience in an Online Sample of the US Transgender Population,", See, for example, Cecilia Dhejne, Roy Van Vlerken, Gunter Heylens and Jon Arcelus, "Mental Health and Gender Dysphoria: A Review of the Literature," 5354; Gunter Heylens et al., 154; Tim C. van de Grift, Els Elaut, Susanne C. Cerwenka, Peggy T. Cohen-Kettenis and Baudewijntje P. C. Kreukels, "Surgical Satisfaction, Quality of Life, and Their Association After Gender-Affirming Surgery: A Follow-up Study,", Rosalia Costa and Marco Colizzi, "The Effect of Cross-Sex Hormonal Treatment on Gender Dysphoria Individuals' Mental Health: A Systematic Review,", Wylie C. Hembree, Peggy T. Cohen-Kettenis, Louis Gooren, Sabine E. Hannema, Walter J. Meyer, M. Hassan Murad, Stephen M. Rosenthal, Joshua D. Safer, Vin Tangpricha, and Guy G. T'Sjoen, "Endocrine Treatment of Gender-Dysphoric/Gender-Incongruent Persons: An Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline,", Simonsen RK Giraldi A E Hald, GM, "Long-Term Follow-Up of Individuals Undergoing Sex Reassignment Surgery: Psychiatric Morbidity and Mortality,". Diocese issues guidance on gender dysphoria, calling for compassion and Full text of Bishop Paul Coakley's pastoral letter on gender dysphoria #1 You are precious and loved and worthy of good things. Moreover, if merely foreseeing the consequence of an action entailed the intention of it, then the traditional principle of the double effect would not be possible. This explanation of Pius' use of these terms resolves what may appear to be an inconsistency in the way he understood the principle of totality; for example, Scaria Kanniyakonil. September 21, 2022 Endow: The Remedy to Gender Confusion Simone Rizkallah Endow, which is an acronym for Educating on the Nature and Dignity of Women, calls women together to study important documents of the Catholic Church in small group communities. Anthropology, Transgenderism, and Disorders of Sex Development,", Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, "Concerning the Notion of Person in Theology,", For a biological explanation of the primary and secondary sex characteristics, see "Sex" at, The bodily location of the primary and secondary sex characteristics also has no relevance to integral status of the primary sex characteristics for God's creative act. This anthropology is based on God's plan in the creation of man and woman which, as St. John Paul II states, "is a plan that 'from the beginning' has been indelibly imprinted in the very being of the human person -men and women- and, therefore, in the make-up, meaning and deepest workings of the individual. "37 The Sweden cohort study concluded that "surgery and hormonal therapy alleviates gender dysphoria" but that these therapies are "apparently not sufficient to remedy the high rates of morbidity and mortality found among transsexual persons." PDF LOOKING FOR COUNSELING OR SUPPORT? - Person and Identity Project I will argue below that the ontological significance of the distinction between the primary and secondary sex characteristics means that there is a corresponding significant moral difference between directly affecting the primary sex characteristics and directly affecting the secondary sex characteristics for the purpose of treating gender dysphoria. Catholic Voices answers: Is affirmation the path to happiness in gender Summer 2016 Peer reviewed article on Childhood Gender Dysphoria for Journal of Physicians and Surgeons: http://www.jpands.org/vol21no2/cretella.pdf. Gender Resources - Chastity In my view, there are three flaws in Jones' analysis of these historical sources. Read More. Gender dysphoria is different from simply not conforming to stereotypical gender role behavior. A strong desire to be of the other gender (or some alternative gender different from one's assigned gender). Indeed, a number of studies have suggested that gender dysphoria is an independent risk factor for suicidality and that lifetime suicide attempts may be as high as 46% among trans men 42% among trans women.31 A study by Gunter Heylens and his colleagues found that the rate of affective and anxiety disorders was higher among persons with gender dysphoria than the general population. It is based on the premise that Catholic teaching on the creation of the human person as being either female or male independent of a person's sense of gender is true. This conscience rests in part upon Catholic teaching on the creation of the human person as either female or male. Cecilia Dhejne, Roy Van Vlerken, Gunter Heylens and Jon Arcelus, "Mental Health and Gender Dysphoria: A Review of the Literature,". The object, intention, and circumstances of such actions are directed toward the treatment of the dysphoria by means that do not undermine the sexual identity component integral to the body/soul unity of the person. I am not claiming that this conclusion and its argument are a part of Catholic teaching, but only that this analysis is consistent with Catholic teaching. "35 With respect to surgery for gender dysphoria, it is recognized that we "need more studies with appropriate controls that examine long-term quality of life, psychosocial outcomes, and psychiatric outcomes to determine the long-term benefits of surgical treatment. The creation of the individual human person as a substance, with a spiritual soul, and as an animal who is male or female, delimits the kind of being according to which God creates. One recent study by Walter Bockting and his colleagues showed "in comparison with norms for nontransgender men and women, our transgender sample had disproportionately high rates of depression, anxiety, somatization, and overall psychological distress. Under certain conditions, directly affecting the secondary sex characteristics in order to treat gender dysphoria may be morally permitted in Catholic health care, particularly because the secondary sex characteristics do not have an integral ontological status. Rather, the order of nature, through empirical and metaphysical methods, may be understood as encompassing both the "order of biology" and the "order of existence" comprehended in its ontological dimension and its relationship to God the Creator.14. Catholic Teaching on the Human Person and Gender Dysphoria The evaluation of this argument should be made strictly on its merits. Copyright 2019 CHA. In their "being-man" and "being-woman," they reflect the Creator's wisdom and goodness.5, The Catechism also calls attention to Genesis 5:1-2: "When God created man, he made him in the likeness of God. . Interventions on secondary sex characteristics directed to the good of the whole of the person are proportionate means to remedy the lack of psychological and emotional cohesiveness and even suicidality. I conclude that, within certain parameters, hormonal and surgical treatment for adults with gender dysphoria is not contrary to Catholic teaching. for although it is quite true that concern must be shown for the integrity of the Church's moral teaching, special care should always be shown to emphasize and encourage the highest and most central values of the Gospel, particularly the primacy of charity as a response to the completely gratuitous offer of God's love. Such actions include education of staff, use of preferred gender pronouns, appropriate room assignments, accurate information and correct identification in the EMR, fully informed plans of care, and accurate communication and ordering on behalf of the patient. Scientific evidence indicates that a person's sense of gender could be influenced by multiple biological and social factors. Examples of this distinction are transgender persons who have hysterectomies or orchiectomies directly to treat pathophysiological conditions of the uterus or testes but which happen to coincide with their desire for gender transition. "18 Notice that intrinsic to the creation of individual men and women according to this text is an ordering or tendency toward others of the opposite sex. Allowing treatment affecting the secondary sex characteristics to relieve suffering constitutes neither formal nor immediate material cooperation in gender transition, either with respect to treatment affecting secondary sex characteristics or any future surgeries involving the primary sex characteristics. The study authors concluded that it is "important to note that the current study is only informative with respect to transsexuals [sic] persons' health after sex reassignment; no inferences can be drawn as to the effectiveness of sex reassignment as a treatment for transsexualism. A rape victim knows it wasn't her fault, but her body still feels like trash. The Catholic provider is not perpetuating or joining in on a lie or a delusion, but rather it is treating the suffering of individuals by morally legitimate means. St. Louis, MO 63134 Our sense of identity is often mismatched from reality. (OSV News)New guidance and policies on ministering to people experiencing gender dysphoria released Jan. 16 by the Diocese of Des Moines, Iowa, call for compassion and coherence with the. The argument here for the ontological significance of the distinction between the sex characteristics recognizes the reality of Catholic teaching and attempts to reconcile that teaching with the Catholic theological, metaphysical, and moral traditions and relevant science. . Full Text of Archbishop Paul Coakley's Pastoral Letter on Gender All Rights Reserved. "67 Using the distinction between the primary and secondary sex characteristics in the way I am suggesting is not to deny or ignore the reality of biological variation in sex, or the very real psychological and social dimensions of how transgender persons view themselves. "50 Thus, Pius' limits on the application of the principle of totality were not generated from a view of the principle that reduced the notions of integrity and part-whole relations to the physical dimension of the person. By Phil Lawler ( bio - articles - email ) | Oct 28, 2022 Some years ago, I became aware that a colleague, who was working under my supervision, was going through a fairly serious psychological. In his article, Cardinal Ratzinger prescinds or excludes from consideration the questions of the soul/body unity and individuation. You are first and foremost a son or daughter of God and being His child is the number one priority. The 5 Best Online Transgender Support Groups of 2021 - Verywell Mind Providing objective medical information about treatment for gender dysphoria, or transferring the general care of patients with gender dysphoria, does not constitute illicit cooperation or an illicit referral. "66 Not all listening, reasoning, and proposing on the question of treating gender dysphoria is ipso facto condoning or promoting gender ideology. Dr. Hruz's article, Deficiencies in Scientific Evidence for Medical Management of Gender Dysphoria, provides an overview of what is currently known about people who experience a gender identity that differs from their biological sex and the associated desire to seek change through medical treatment. But that's starting. In the case of interventions on the secondary sex characteristics, they have an intrinsic relation to the suffering of gender dysphoria precisely because they are sex characteristics; therefore, the removal or altering of these characteristics represents, consistent with the principle of totality, the sacrificing of one part to heal another part for the sake of the whole in such a way that does not violate the individual's created existence as female or male. Pope Pius XII described and applied the principle of totality with an understanding of human integrity as encompassing both physical and psychic integrity. It especially concerns affectivity, the capacity to love and to procreate, and in a more general way the aptitude for forming bonds of communion with others.20, The ontological relation between the creation of the human person as female or male and the complementarity of the sexes is also underscored by St. John Paul II: "When the Book of Genesis speaks of 'help' [for Adam], it is not referring merely to acting, but also to being. (314) 427-2500. If there is any cooperation at all, it would be remote, mediate, material cooperation for a justified reason. It is also important to understand that the ontological significance of the difference between the primary and secondary sex characteristics does not divide the human person or entail a dualistic view of the person. These interventions can be accomplished without being directed toward eliminating primary sex characteristics that are integral to who the person is as a created being.41. With respect to insurance coverage, any coverage that involves gender dysphoria identified in diagnostic codes, or any use of utilization management documentation that refers to guidelines for treatment of gender dysphoria for interventions affecting secondary sex characteristics, does not constitute illicit cooperation. "30 This suggests the need for better access to psychiatric and psychological care for many individuals. "Gender dysphoria" is a psychological condition in which a biological male or female comes to feel that his or her emotional and/or psychological identity does not match his or her biological sex and "experiences clinically significant distress" as a result. We are all affected by sin, and we all personally choose to sin. See, for example, Pope Pius XII, Address to the Italian Medical-Biological Union of St. Luke (November 12, 1944), Monks of Solesmes, ed.. Pope Pius, XII, Address to a group of eye specialists (May 14, 1956), Monks of Solesmes, ed.. Pope Pius, XII, Address to a group of country doctors (October 4, 1953), Monks of Solesmes, ed.. Pope Pius, XII, Address to the Italian Medical-Biological Union of St. Luke (November 12, 1944), Monks of Solesmes, ed.. The fact that the principle was applied to the relationship of the individual to the state also indicates that the notions of a whole and relation of part to whole as they function in the principle are not reducible to physical reality.51. One such view argues that any surgical or hormonal intervention on any sex characteristicprimary or secondaryto treat gender dysphoria is to deny God's act of creating the body/soul unity of the human person, and "perpetuates the lie" that sexual identity can be changed. Even when he referenced the "destruction or . He taught that we should "avoid a cold bureaucratic morality in dealing with more sensitive issues . Consistent with Pope Francis' distinction, to treat the suffering of people with gender dysphoria in accordance with Catholic teaching does not entail an acceptance or approval of ideologies of gender that are contrary to that teaching. Gender dysphoria I am pleased to see that our diocese is working on what Father Thom Hennen calls the "challenging puzzle" of gender dysphoria. A service or the frequency of services available to a transgender or gender diverse recipient cannot be categorically limited. He does not reject the reality of the human person as a substance constituted by a body/soul unity, but only that the category of substance defines human essence. Interventions for the treatment of gender dysphoria can be justified by the principle of totality, if, and only if, the services are restricted to secondary sex characteristics. May we treat this patient for the pathology, knowing that it will indirectly assist gender transition? The study observed that "the incongruence between gender identity and social life and/or bodily characteristics experienced by individuals diagnosed with gender identity disorder can cause much distress that may lead to affective and anxiety problems and even disorders. Jones explicitly argues that the distress of gender dysphoria is an "intentional object of a mental state" and as such cannot be in a "part-to-whole relation" that could be evaluated by the principle of totality.58The distress is about a physical aspect of the person, it is not the physical object itself. It is clear that those with gender dysphoria suffer greatly and must be treated with great compassion and sympathy. Serving LGBT Students in Catholic Schools - Catholic Education Resource For reprint permission, contact Betty Crosby or call (314)253-3490. Gender Dysphoria | Psychology Today It involves feelings of distress due to a strong, pervasive desire to be another gender. "36 At the same time, a recent study has found that "generally SRS [Sex Reassignment Surgery] may reduce psychological morbidity for some individuals while increasing it for others. Insights | Faith & Culture | Jun 29, 2023. It is entirely a different matter in the case of the moral organism that is humanity. The first is the composite unity of body and soul by which a person exists. It could be argued that to be "relativity toward the other" is not possible without at the same time being a body/soul unity as male or female. Counseling Gender-Questioning Teens (Part 1) Any consideration of the analysis provided here needs to recognize the independence of its merits from any societal ideology of this sort. These kinds of actions do not establish the specific conditions with an intrinsic relation that makes possible the performance of removing sex characteristics integral to the individuation of a particular person as male or female, nor are they essential. Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, May 1, 2023 "21 These texts on the creation of the human person indicate that in Catholic teaching being male or female is integral to the creation and act of existence of an individual person and is a fundamental source of relating to and being in communion with others. Although these two cases are different in that treatment for a racist patient would have no direct relation to racism itself, to refuse care to such a patient based on a perceived connection to ideology would be the same in both cases. In the spring of 2015, Chris and I had coffee to talk about the implications of living with gender dysphoria. For the same reason, the fact that ontologically a person is created as female or male and that this is contrary to the individual's sense of gender identity does not entail a dualistic view of the human person.25. How Early in Life do Transgender Adults Begin to Experience Gender It is based on the premise that Catholic teaching on the creation of the human person as being either female or male independent of a person's sense of gender is true. The reality of government mandates affecting coverage for interventions involving the primary sex characteristics solely and only for treatment of gender dysphoria is a significant factor for evaluating the ethics of this coverage within Catholic organizations. Any sterilizing effect on the primary sex characteristics would be foreseen but unintended.43 Moreover, the sex hormones affected in hormonal therapy for gender dysphoria considered in themselves are neither primary nor secondary sex characteristics. He died because He wants to spend eternity with you. Suite 550 Copyright 2019 CHA. Some make the claim that puberty suppressing drugs are fully reversible and that feminizing and masculinizing drugs are partially reversible: see, The World Professional Association for Transgender Health, The fact that levels of each hormone are greater or less depending upon the sex does not change the fact that the hormones are causes of sex characteristics as effects and are not the characteristics themselves. For Jones and his most of his sources, the part-whole relationship specified by the principle is conceptualized strictly as a relationship of organic part to physical whole.46 In this understanding of the principle, integrity is reduced to physical integrity that can be justifiably preserved through the sacrifice of physical parts. This analysis explores a theological and ethical justification for treating adults with a diagnosis of gender dysphoria within Catholic health care in light of Catholic teaching. All of these points are evident in the following texts from the Catechism, beginning with Genesis, 1:27: 'God created man in his own image . He concludes that as a result of this fact the principle of totality cannot be used to justify what he calls "serious and lasting harm at the level of function," which he does not define.59 The assumption behind this claim is that only physical objects have the nature necessary to be parts of the whole that is the person as considered in the principle of totality. For a Catholic health care institution to approve such procedures would be to share in the same object of eliminating a sex characteristic integral to the creation of the person for its own sake. Their issues, though, can be dealt with most often without dangerous. They do this through a variety of means, including: faith in Christ; obedience to God's Word; the power of the Holy Spirit; godly counsel and pastoral care; prayer - their own and others; confession; forgiveness; embracing truth; and giving and receiving love and support from Christian friends and family. The texts also show that the ordination toward the generation of new life within the complementarity of the sexes is integral to the sexual identity of the person as male or female. Even Jones' recognition of the possible ethical justification of "minor medical procedures" for gender dysphoria that do not destroy "biological function" is not grounded in an ontological distinction.57 However, recognition of this distinction makes a critical difference to the proportionality of goods and evils weighed by the principle, as has been shown.
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