- Feb 5, 2002
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The Doctrinal Committee of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) issued on 20 March a 14-page firm doctrinal note on the “Moral Limits to Technological Manipulation of the Human Body”.
It sets out clearly the prohibition on “manipulating” or mutilating the bodies of people, especially young people, with the aim of changing sex, stating: “Catholic health care services must not perform interventions, whether surgical or chemical, that aim to transform the sexual characteristics of a human body into those of the opposite sex or take part in the development of such procedures.”
This is a welcome statement from the bishops which should put to rest any suggestions that the Catholic Church could support any such surgeries which are always and everywhere harmful to the patient, the natural order, and the created order of God.
The bishops explain that, “A fundamental tenet of the Christian faith is that there is an order in the natural world that was designed by its Creator and that this created order is good (Gen 1:31; Ps 19:1ff.). The Church has always affirmed the essential goodness of the natural order and called on us to respect it.”
It continues: “What is true of creation as a whole is true of human nature in particular: there is an order in human nature that we are called to respect. In fact, human nature deserves utmost respect since humanity occupies a singular place in the created order, being created in the image of God (Gen.1:27).
“To find fulfilment as human persons, to find true happiness, we must respect that order. We did not create human nature; it is a gift from a loving Creator. Nor do we ‘own’ our human nature, as if it were something that we are free to make use of in any way we please. Thus, genuine respect for human dignity requires that decisions about the use of technology be guided by genuine respect for this created order.”
Continued below.
catholicherald.co.uk
It sets out clearly the prohibition on “manipulating” or mutilating the bodies of people, especially young people, with the aim of changing sex, stating: “Catholic health care services must not perform interventions, whether surgical or chemical, that aim to transform the sexual characteristics of a human body into those of the opposite sex or take part in the development of such procedures.”
This is a welcome statement from the bishops which should put to rest any suggestions that the Catholic Church could support any such surgeries which are always and everywhere harmful to the patient, the natural order, and the created order of God.
The bishops explain that, “A fundamental tenet of the Christian faith is that there is an order in the natural world that was designed by its Creator and that this created order is good (Gen 1:31; Ps 19:1ff.). The Church has always affirmed the essential goodness of the natural order and called on us to respect it.”
It continues: “What is true of creation as a whole is true of human nature in particular: there is an order in human nature that we are called to respect. In fact, human nature deserves utmost respect since humanity occupies a singular place in the created order, being created in the image of God (Gen.1:27).
“To find fulfilment as human persons, to find true happiness, we must respect that order. We did not create human nature; it is a gift from a loving Creator. Nor do we ‘own’ our human nature, as if it were something that we are free to make use of in any way we please. Thus, genuine respect for human dignity requires that decisions about the use of technology be guided by genuine respect for this created order.”
Continued below.
USCCB doctrinal note prohibiting transgender procedures is a welcome intervention - Catholic Herald
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops issued on 20 March a firm doctrinal note on the ‘Moral Limits to Technological Manipula
catholicherald.co.uk
