Members of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) voted Wednesday in Baltimore, Maryland, to ban the use of transgender medical procedures in Catholic hospitals across the nation.
Although most Catholic hospitals were already not offering such procedures, the change became permanent as the bishops issued an “authoritative guidance” for the healthcare facilities, according to the National Catholic Reporter (NCR). They approved an updated text for the Ethics and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services in a vote with 206 in favor, 8 voting no and 7 abstaining. (RELATED: Conservative Archbishop Paul Coakley Named Head Of US Catholic Bishops)
Part III of the text tells Catholic healthcare providers not to offer interventions “that aim to transform sexual characteristics of a human body into those of the opposite sex,” according to the NCR.
The directive instructs workers to “employ all appropriate resources to mitigate the suffering of those who experience gender incongruence or gender dysphoria,” while respecting “the fundamental order of the human body.”
Health care professionals will also not be permitted to refer those denied these services to hospitals that do, according to the revised text.
WASHINGTON, DC – DECEMBER 04: Transgender rights supporters rally outside of the U.S. Supreme Court as the high court hears arguments in a case on transgender health rights on December 04, 2024 in Washington, DC. The Supreme Court is hearing arguments in US v. Skrmetti, a case about Tennessee’s law banning gender-affirming care for minors and if it violates the Constitution’s equal protection guarantee. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
The directive took aim at services such as hormonal, psychological and surgical treatments, though bishops will have the autonomy to implement the directives in each of their dioceses, according to The Associated Press.
“With regard to the gender ideology, I think it’s very important the church makes a strong statement here,” Bishop Robert Barron of Minnesota’s Winona-Rochester Diocese said amid open dialogue.
The initiative aligns with a 2023 USCCB doctrinal note titled Moral Limits to the Technological Manipulation of the Human Body.
The note acknowledges that technological and scientific advancements have gone a long way in providing healthcare for humanity but suggests that “[c]areful moral discernment” is needed to use these advancements in a way that shows respect for the “created order inscribed in our human nature.”
“Just as bodiliness is a fundamental aspect of human existence, so is either ‘being a man’ or ‘being a woman’ a fundamental aspect of existence as a human being, expressing a person’s unitive and procreative finality,” the note reads.
Pope Francis leads the vespers at Saint Paul Outside the Walls, in Rome on January 25, 2025. (Photo by ANDREAS SOLARO/AFP via Getty Images)
The note quotes the late Pope Francis, saying “‘biological sex and the socio-cultural role of sex (gender) can be distinguished but not separated.’ It is one thing to be understanding of human weakness and the complexities of life, and another to accept ideologies that attempt to sunder what are inseparable aspects of reality.” (RELATED: Gay ABC Host’s Confirmation Sponsored By Husband, Credits ‘Pope Francis’ Legacy Of Inclusivity’)
“Let us not fall into the sin of trying to replace the Creator. We are creatures, and not omnipotent,” Francis continued. “Creation is prior to us and must be received as a gift. At the same time, we are called to protect our humanity, and this means, in the first place, accepting it and respecting it as it was created.”
The Catholic Health Association of the United States said it will review the directives and called them consistent with its policy, noting 1 in 7 U.S. patients receive care from a Catholic hospital daily, according to a statement .
“Catholic providers will continue to welcome those who seek medical care from us and identify as transgender,” the statement continues. “We will continue to treat these individuals with dignity and respect, which is consistent with Catholic social teaching and our moral obligation to serve everyone, particularly those who are marginalized.”