Episcopal experts issued a position on sex transit: Restraint in applying extremist solutions

The position on sex transit was announced by the squad of Experts of the Polish Bioethical Episcopal Conference. The paper encourages "restraint in the application of extremist solutions which, as practice teaches, not only do not produce the expected results, but can permanently disintegrate and cripple man". As has been noted, in fresh years, the percent of people in society who see themselves as transgender has been increasing. It was recalled that any person, regardless of his sexual tendency and sex identification, must be respected in his dignity and cannot be discriminated against.

The KEP expert squad points out that the subject of sex transit is highly up to date. There is simply a discussion about it in many environments and more and more people identify themselves as transgender persons or, more broadly, search their sex identity. Members of their families are besides profoundly curious in this issue. There are besides many questions on this subject from experts who supply assistance to transgender persons. This includes teachers, educators, psychologists, doctors of various specialties, sexologists, psychotherapists, as well as judges investigating cases of sex determination.

In the position presented, the squad uses both medical, philosophical literature and teaching of Pope Francis regarding sex ideology to describe sex reality.

The paper stresses that many environments advance transit leading to irreversible failure of procreative capacity. The Church sees specified actions as causing severe harm to wellness and thus wicked. Attention was besides drawn to many inconsistencies in building arguments for transit.

The KEP squad points out that permanent dysharmony, caused by a failed effort at surgical and hormonal intervention, may lead to permanent impairment of the capabilities required in personal, sexual and household relationships.

"The conscious position of intimate and household relations should so lead to restraint in the application of extremist solutions that, as practice teaches, not only neglect to deliver the expected results, but can permanently disintegrate and mutilate a individual – yet the patient will not be able to take sexual life and have offspring," says Position.

The paper besides suggests any affirmative proposals for the future. This concerns, inter alia, the knowing of the situation of persons having difficulty reading their sexual recognition or identifying themselves as transgender. Many of them, as noted, feel "imprisoned in them with their body" which makes them search understanding, empathy and acceptance. The KEP squad recalls the position of the Church, which says that all person, regardless of his sexual inclination and sexual identification, must be respected in his dignity and surrounded by concern so as to avoid "any sign of unfair discrimination", and in peculiar all forms of aggression and violence.

Episcopal experts advocate the improvement of a network of professional intellectual and psychiatric counselling, which would enable contact with psychologists, psychotherapists and doctors of various specialties who want to aid diagnose identity problems especially young people.

It is besides crucial to organise honest debates, which, as we read, "would, on the 1 hand, show the complexity of the issue of sex transit, on the another hand, search decent methods of assistance, consistent with classical anthropology and the dignity of the human person." In the opinion of the Group, these activities should be addressed to both persons who identify themselves as transgender or who have difficulty reading their sex recognition and to members of their families.

The paper is accompanied by bibliography, which includes studies presenting different positions on sexuality and sex transit, including those that do not mention to the Christian worldview.

On behalf of the Panel of Experts of the Polish Bioethical Episcopal Conference, the paper was signed by Bishop Józef Wróbel SCJ.

KAI