California bishops issue letter addressing “gender ideology”

Michie · Oct 13, 2023

Archbishop Cordileone of San Francisco and Bishop Barber of Oakland explore Christian anthropology.

Gender ideology is “opposed to reason, to science, and to a Christian view of the human person,” two Catholic bishops in California have stated.

“The Body-Soul Unity of the Human Person” is a September 29 letter signed by Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone of San Francisco and Bishop Michael C. Barber, SJ, of Oakland.

Unlike many letters and directives that have been issued by dioceses and universities over the past couple of years, “The Body-Soul Unity of the Human Person” does not set policy, such as forbidding the use of “preferred pronouns.” The letter does, however, link to documents issued by other entities, such as the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

“The complexities and moral implications of alterations to the human body are treated extensively in the Doctrinal Note on the Moral Limits to Technological Manipulation of the Human Body issued by the USCCB Committee on Doctrine on March 20, 2023,” the letter notes. “Great harm can be done in situations where medical procedures and treatments fail to respect the fundamental created order of the human person. We especially encourage physicians and healthcare workers, those considering medical treatments for gender dysphoria, and anyone caring for people suffering from gender dysphoria to carefully consider the information contained in the Doctrinal Note.”

The letter calls on those who carry out Church ministries to familiarize themselves with Church teaching “in order to accompany those we serve in love and truth.”

Sound understanding

Continued below.