Gender theory and surrogacy a “violation of human dignity”: Is the Vatican right?

Andrew (No)

To see how misguided the Vatican's decree on gender-affirming surgeries and surrogacy is, one simply needs to take this line of thinking to its logical conclusion. The Vatican claims that these procedures go against God's will because they suggest that God has made a mistake. Following that line of reasoning, we could assume that God would want people to die from easily treatable diseases, disorders, or slightly complicated births. This line of thinking would rule out eyeglasses, braces, wheelchairs, and many other standard devices that allow people to function in ways other than how they were born. The Vatican's logic is inconsistent. Why do some types of medical care not conflict with God's plan, while others do? People are born with all kinds of characteristics and abilities; it is inconsistent for the Vatican to bar people from the full joys of life simply because the medical care they require is surrogacy or gender-affirming care.  

The unfortunate part about the Vatican's recent decree is that it comes from what should be a source of acceptance and compassion. Jesus taught that God's mercy would bring outcasts from society into His close company and was never afraid to walk amongst the most afflicted with empathy and grace. The Vatican leadership should consider revisiting these basic Christian teachings, which are taught in Sunday School. Faith leaders and compassionate role models should do everything in their power to ease the suffering of all people, including helping those who need assistance having children, gender confirmation, or any other issues.

Takashi (Yes)

The Vatican is speaking truth on behalf of millions of people worldwide who are too politically correct or afraid to speak out about these issues for fear of discrimination or arrest. Gender ideology is corrosive and harmful, championing a person's subjective sense of self over truth. As the Vatican rightly points out, such radical 'self-determination, as gender theory prescribes, apart from the fundamental truth that human life is a gift, amounts to a concession to the age-old temptation to make oneself God.' 

'Gender affirming care' and 'sex changes,' euphemisms that mask the horrors of genital mutilation and castration imposed on the gender dysphoric, cannot produce the authentic human flourishing. The Vatican argues it does the opposite of what is referred to as our call to 'protect our humanity,' including accepting and respecting our sexed bodies as they were created. Conversely, gender theory harms its followers, having been linked to increased depression and mental health issues. Likewise, surrogacy and IVF have transformed the natural act of bringing life into the world into an industry where children are products to be designed and bought, and women are equally commodified. The Pope rightly recognizes that 'a child is always a gift and never the basis of a commercial contract.' 

Both these practices, especially gender ideology, go against the natural order of how the world was created and have set a precedent with harmful long-term implications for the social structure of society. The Vatican is right to champion human dignity that is rooted in the correct understanding of humanity in light of our Creator. Understanding this will help preserve men, women, and the family, around which all of society is built and where dignity is an essential virtue.