Gender Theory, Transgenderism, Abortion & The Doctrine of the Faith - Top 3 Takeaways – April 9th, 2024
- Humanity. On Monday Pope Francis and The Vatican released one of the Catholic Church’s most important documents in modern times. The 24-page document entitled: Declaration of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith Dignitas Infinita on Human Dignity. The document was the culmination of a five-year project by The Vatican to address modern cultural issues from a religious perspective. The issues taken on in the Human Dignity declaration include poverty, war, migrants, human trafficking, sexual abuse, violence against women, abortion, surrogacy, suicide, those with disabilities, gender theory, sex changes and digital violence. It’s a compelling and worthwhile read whether you’re Catholic or not. It’s also a document that’s bound to challenge you at points whether you’re Catholic or not. For example, as a Catholic Christian I identify and inherently agree with most of what’s included in the declaration as a matter of principal and of faith. It does challenge me a bit on the subject of migrants where it’s stated: It is urgent to remember that “every migrant is a human person who, as such, possesses fundamental, inalienable rights that must be respected by everyone and in every circumstance.” Receiving migrants is an important and meaningful way of defending “the inalienable dignity of each human person regardless of origin, race or religion.” Now, that statement doesn’t necessarily justify illegal behavior by those seeking entrance into the United States, for example. The United States does have lawful processes for those legitimately seeking asylum, unfortunately they’ve been disenfranchised by those attempting to abuse the system for personal gain. However, on a personal note, it is fair to say that I’ve not properly considered or often characterized the individual human dignity of migrants in related discussions. This is an example of an area where I require additional prayer and growth. As for other aspects for society to consider...
- Gender Theory. Here’s what the declaration has to say about that... Regarding gender theory, whose scientific coherence is the subject of considerable debate among experts, the Church recalls that human life in all its dimensions, both physical and spiritual, is a gift from God. This gift is to be accepted with gratitude and placed at the service of the good. Desiring a personal self-determination, as gender theory prescribes, apart from this fundamental truth that human life is a gift, amounts to a concession to the age-old temptation to make oneself God, entering into competition with the true God of love revealed to us in the Gospel. Another prominent aspect of gender theory is that it intends to deny the greatest possible difference that exists between living beings: sexual difference. This foundational difference is not only the greatest imaginable difference but is also the most beautiful and most powerful of them. In the male-female couple, this difference achieves the most marvelous of reciprocities. It thus becomes the source of that miracle that never ceases to surprise us: the arrival of new human beings in the world. Therefore, all attempts to obscure reference to the ineliminable sexual difference between man and woman are to be rejected. And regarding transgenderism, categorized as “Sex Change”... We are called to protect our humanity, and this means, in the first place, accepting it and respecting it as it was created. It follows that any sex-change intervention, as a rule, risks threatening the unique dignity the person has received from the moment of conception. The elegantly worded description of transgenderism as an abomination introduces an instructive point. The irony is that our society has been conditioned that it’s compassionate to embrace the homosexual alphabet (LGBTQ+) and everyone who identifies with something within it. The reality is that acceptance and normalization of the amoral abomination of transgenderism is the least compassionate thing we as a society could do. As is noted by the declaration, this doesn’t mean it’s acceptable to treat those who’ve opted to travel down that path in their own lives with hate, or without human dignity, but that the premise of transgenderism is an abomination...therefore, as a society it’s wrong to attempt to normalize and potentially encourage it as a result. As for abortion...The Vatican’s longstanding prolife message was on display in a full-throated way...as is stated: Unborn children are, thus, “the most defenseless and innocent among us. Nowadays, efforts are made to deny them their human dignity and to do with them whatever one pleases, taking their lives and passing laws preventing anyone from standing in the way of this. “It must, therefore, be stated with all force and clarity, even in our time, that “this defense of unborn life is closely linked to the defense of each and every other human right.” Floridians need to remember this with a proposed constitutional amendment on our ballots in November seeking to enable nearly limitless abortions within our state. What kind of state are we, and what kind of people are we if we were to enshrine in our state’s constitution something so immoral? And speaking of abortion...
- Leave it to the states. As promised, the former and perhaps future President of the United States made his position on abortion known to start the week. In a video message on Truth Social yesterday Trump said this: The Republican Party should always be on the side of the miracle of life. My view is that the states will determine by vote or legislation or perhaps both and whatever they decide must be the law of the land. In this case, the law of the state. Trump has decided not to attempt to federalize the issue of abortion once again, but to leave the policy with the states. It’s likely a good political strategy. That takes us back to the question of what kind of state we want Florida to be. One that pays deference to life and the most innocent among us, or a state that embraces policy far more radical than even the Roe standard? I’ll pray that we make the right decision in November. It’s literally a matter of life and death.