U.S. Catholic bishops have issued new guidelines to Catholic hospitals barring them from providing transgender people with gender transition care
FILE - Christine Zuba holds the cross she wears when serving as a eucharistic minister at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church at her home in Blackwood, New Jersey, on Monday, Feb. 14, 2022. After coming out as transgender at age 58, Zuba, a lifelong Catholic, was welcomed into the parish.
“These decisions are being made at a much higher level without knowing the individuals and individual cases involved,” DeBernardo said. “When transgender people are not permitted or restricted from transitioning in ways they feel are appropriate, it could end in depression, anxiety or even self harm, including suicide.”
Catholic hospitals see transgender patients with a variety of health care needs from broken bones to cancer treatment and heart attacks, Bouchard said, adding that the hospitals would not perform cosmetic procedures such as reconstructive surgeries, hysterectomies, or treatments such as sterilizations on request, unless there is a medical need for them.
“But we don’t treat ideology,” he said. “We treat patients who are really suffering. There are things out there about gender fluidity that we do not agree with. But as Catholic hospitals, we are held to the same standard of care as other hospitals.” DeBernardo said he sees hope with many more Catholics in the pews showing greater understanding of transgender people's lives. He noted cases where Catholic parents are supporting their transgender children against, including barring puberty blockers and preferred pronouns on campuses and in parishes.
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