VATICAN CIty: Transgender people can be godparents at Roman Catholic baptisms, witnesses at religious weddings and receive baptism themselves, the Vatican's doctrinal office said on Wednesday, responding to questions from a bishop.

The department, known as the Dicastery of the Doctrine of the Faith, was vague however, in response to a question of whether a same-sex couple could have a Church baptism for an adopted child or one obtained through a surrogate mother.

Bishop Jose Negri of Santo Amaro in Brazil sent the doctrinal office six questions in July regarding LGBT people and their participation in the sacraments of baptism and matrimony.

The three pages of questions and answers were signed by the department's head, Argentine Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, and approved by Pope Francis on Oct. 31. They were posted on the department's website on Wednesday using the Italian word for "transsexuals".

Francis, 86, has tried to make the Church more welcoming to the LGBT community without changing Church teachings, including one saying that same-sex attraction is not sinful but same-sex acts are.

In response to a question of whether transgender people can be baptized, the doctrinal office said they could with some conditions and as long as there is "no risk of causing a public scandal or disorientation among the faithful".

It said transgender people could be godparents at a baptism at the discretion of the local priest as well as a witness at a Church wedding, but the local priest should exercise "pastoral prudence" in his decision.

"This is an important step forward in the Church seeing transgender people not only as people (in a Church where some say they don't really exist) but as Catholics," Father James Martin, a prominent Jesuit priest and supporter of LGBT rights in the Church, said on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Francis has met with transgender people and in July, he told a transgender person: "Even if we are sinners, he (God) draws near to help us. The Lord loves us as we are, this is God's crazy love."

The document said a person in a same-sex relationship could also be a witness at a Catholic wedding, the office said, citing current Church canonical legislation which contained no prohibition against it.

The response was less clear regarding persons in same-sex relationships and their role in baptism, which is the initiation into the Church for infants, children or adults.

The Brazilian bishop sought guidance on whether a same-sex couple who had adopted a child or obtained it from a surrogate mother could have that child baptized in a Catholic ceremony.

The response said that for the child of a same-sex couple to be baptized, there had to be "a well-founded hope that it would be educated in the Catholic religion".

There was a similarly nuanced response to a question whether a person in a same-sex relationship could be a godparent at a Church baptism. It said the person had to "lead a life that conforms to the faith".

JASONjnr:


You win election and you still can't get over Peter Obi?

Is he really tormenting your existence?

FreeStuffsNG:

You're the one who brought saint Peter Obi into this thread, not me.

easyfem:
this are the white that brought this religion to us ..... and this is not in the bible ... bible oppose it

Osanoghodua1:
Anti Christ will come from a City upon the mountain. He must have a religious and political power. The Vatican City may produce the anti-Christ the way they are coming. Let him that has ear let him hear and flee the deception of this age.

Righteousness2:
There is no way to modify evil. This is satanic abominable abomination .

The False prophet of the coming lawless man aka antichrist who has been disgusting himself is beginning to show who he really is.

Do not be carried away by titles and so on in the name church.

The subtle Deception is real. If you are not consciously attached to GOD and HIS word, the Bible, they will sweep you away and sweep you to Hell.

We are living in the last of the last moments!
Get yourself right with JESUS Christ!
JESUS CHRIST is Coming quickly.

themanderon:
Right before our very eyes the signs are manifesting. Even the Catholic Church with their so called strong infallible teachings are changing their doctrines to accommodate the teachings of the princes of the power in the air. Na Antichrist the world dey wait for so. His signs are everywhere. Let us repent and give our lives to Christ. Almost all prophesies of his coming are here with us. The great apostasy is amongst us. The falling away has started. May God be merciful on us

Righteousness2:
There is no way to modify evil. This is satanic abominable abomination .

The False prophet of the coming lawless man aka antichrist who has been disgusting himself is beginning to show who he really is.

Do not be carried away by titles and so on in the name church.

The subtle Deception is real. If you are not consciously attached to GOD and HIS word, the Bible, they will sweep you away and sweep you to Hell.

We are living in the last of the last moments!
Get yourself right with JESUS Christ!
JESUS CHRIST is Coming quickly.

Theweekend:
Some of the reasons i don't attend church anymore like wtf are u teaching people these days.

JASONjnr:


You win election and you still can't get over Peter Obi?

Is he really tormenting your existence?

Emuforlife1:

Oga! U sabi Bible pass Pope