Rome & the World: Spain’s bishops respond to ‘trans law’ with 10 points

The Subcommittee for the Family and Defense of Life of the Spanish Bishops’ Conference published a note on Monday, detailing 10 responses to the “trans law” currently being discussed in Congress in Spain. The bill, officially called “for the Real and Effective Equality of Trans People and for the Guarantee of LGTBI Rights,” would guarantee certain protections and liberties for members of the LGBT community, such as for example being able to change one’s sex without providing medical reports or having started hormonal treatments, starting at the age of 16. For those between 12 and 14 years old, a judge’s approval will be necessary and for those between 14 and 16 their legal guardian’s permission will be required. The Bishop’s note, titled “in favor of the dignity and equality of all human life,” expresses concern over the law “since it radically questions the sexual identity of people in all areas of personal, family and social life, arbitrarily establishing and imposing a single anthropological conception.” The first and second point of the note underline the negative “consequences produced by the so-called queer theory or gender theory” and offer “a hand to shed light” on this “ideological legislation,” which they feel is imposed by the authorities. The third, fourth, and fifth points of the note warn about the “depathologization of transsexuality,” which leads to health staff having “to obey the wishes of patients,'' based on subjective criteria, without being able to “determine the most advisable treatment.” These points emphasize also that many adolscents ask to change sex “without presenting a real gender dysphoria.” Point number 6 stresses that “hormonal and surgical sex reassignment cannot be said to solve the problems associated with dysphoria disorders.” The seventh and eighth points explain that the Christian community and its pastors should always welcome the faithful who may be affected by gender dysphoria, as they are “beloved children of the Father” and “have a right to be respected” and receive adequate medical treatment “with full respect for the truth and human dignity.” Point 9 strongly denounces “premature and irreversible treatments,” especially on minors, and point 10 emphasizes that “freedom of conscience and science must be respected for all professionals.”

Alfa y Omega, Spanish   

"My personal reading is that the main 'weapon' is really prayer.” After seven and a half months of war in Ukraine, the Apostolic Nuncio in Kyiv testifies to the terrible situation suffered by the Ukrainian population. Although he says he is now psychologically accustomed to the war, Bishop Visvaldas Kulbokas recognizes that the recent Russian bombings continue to cause hurt. "With each missile, each bomb, people die," deplores the Holy See diplomat who has remained in the country since the beginning, while other ambassadors have left. He emphasizes that this month of October “is a spiritual experience that makes us convert, makes us be more and more united with God." As the mothers and wives of the dead or hostages have told him, some are crying for their loved ones, others do not know where their children or husbands are. They are aware that every second could be the last for the lives of their loved ones...

In this interview with the Vatican media outlet, Vatican News, the Nuncio also tells of the actions taken by the Church on the ground, which participates in the system of protection of civilians in basements. "The parishes are also becoming information points," Bishop Kulbokas explains. He also evokes Pope Francis' call for a "just peace,” which does not have "only the appearance but is a real peace.” Without naming Russia, the Nuncio said: "We want real peace, a real change of hearts, especially of those who started the war.”

Vatican News, Italian

In an address to the UNHCR in Geneva, the Undersecretary for the Multilateral Sector of the Section for Relations with States and International Organizations of the Secretariat of State, calls for a global peace plan. 

Vatican News, Italian 

A look back at the meeting in Assisi with Pope Francis and a thousand young economists and entrepreneurs from around the world.

Il Corriere della Sera, Italian

An audience of about 25 minutes focused on the relations between Montenegro and the Holy See and the situation in the Balkans. 

ACI Stampa, Italian