Photo courtesy of Grist

On Monday, April 8, 2024, the Catholic Church issued a document stating the church’s view on gender. The statement reaffirmed its strong opposition to gender-affirming surgery and gender theory. 

The declaration, titled Dignitas Infinita (meaning infinite dignity), highlights the Vatican’s concerns for human dignity amid a wave of pro-LGBTQ movements around the world.

“This Declaration does not set out to exhaust such a rich and crucial subject. Instead, its aim is to offer some points for reflection that can help us maintain an awareness of human dignity amid the complex historical moment in which we are living,” Prefect Víctor Manuel Fernández wrote in the opening to the declaration.

One of the most important topics covered in the declaration was the subject of surrogacy. The text takes a very strong opposition to the practice, explaining that surrogacy violates the dignity of the child along with the surrogate mother. 

“The Church also takes a stand against the practice of surrogacy, through which the immensely worthy child becomes a mere object,” the declaration explains. 

The declaration cites Pope Francis’ words as clarity on the subject of surrogacy.

“The path to peace calls for respect for life, for every human life, starting with the life of the unborn child in the mother’s womb, which cannot be suppressed or turned into an object of trafficking. In this regard, I deem deplorable the practice of so-called surrogate motherhood,” Francis said.

In the same statement, he expressed his hope that the international community will soon prohibit the practice of surrogacy globally. 

The declaration argues that surrogacy violates both the dignity of the child and the dignity of the mother. The statement explains that every single child has an alienable dignity starting from conception. Additionally, every child has the right to have a “fully human origin” (i.e., not be artificially induced).

The declaration goes on to explain how surrogacy violates the dignity of the pregnant woman. The Vatican argues that the woman is detached from the child growing inside her. She is a mere subservient to the desire of others.

Later on in the statement, the Vatican shares its updated stance on gender theory. The section begins with a kind statement, expressing respect for every person and denouncing horrible actions against those in question.

“The Church wishes, first of all, to reaffirm that every person, regardless of sexual orientation, ought to be respected in his or her dignity and treated with consideration, while every sign of unjust discrimination is to be carefully avoided, particularly any form of aggression and violence,” the declaration wrote. “For this reason, it should be denounced as contrary to human dignity the fact that, in some places, not a few people are imprisoned, tortured, and even deprived of the good of life solely because of their sexual orientation.”

The declaration goes on to make its case against gender theory.

“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,” The declaration argues. “Desiring a personal self-determination, as gender theory prescribes…  amounts to a concession to the age-old temptation to make oneself God.”

This statement caused criticism from several people who are part of the LGBTQ community. For many same-sex couples, surrogacy is one possible way for them to have a child. As the world continues to change and develop, the pope is faced with a nuanced challenge: how to treat others with respect but also hold a firm stance on its Catholic views.