Vatican Set To Release Document That Examines Gender Theory And Surrogacy

The Holy See made an announcement on Tuesday, stating that a press conference is scheduled for April 8 to present the document, entitled "Dignitas infinita," which translates to "Infinite Dignity" in English.

Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, the prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, will present the text. He has previously described the document as a "strong criticism of the immoral tendencies of contemporary society."

The document is anticipated to reinforce the Catholic Church's long-standing opposition to gender ideology, gender reassignment surgery, and surrogate pregnancies, all grounded in the principle of human dignity.

Father Brian Graebe, a priest from the Archdiocese of New York who holds a doctorate in theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, spoke to Fox News Digital. He suggested that the document is likely designed to underscore that "when it comes to fundamental matters of human biology, the church reinforces what she has always taught."

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Pope Francis, who has been compelled to address the swift emergence of gender ideology in recent years, has labeled it as one of the globe's "most dangerous ideological colonizations." The Pope expressed these sentiments in a 2023 interview with the Argentinian newspaper, La Nación.

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In the interview, the Pope questioned, "Why is it dangerous?" He then answered, "Because it blurs differences and the value of men and women." He further elaborated, "All humanity is the tension of differences. It is to grow through the tension of differences. The question of gender is diluting the differences and making the world the same, all dull, all alike, and that is contrary to the human vocation."

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The Catholic Church's teachings emphasize that human life is sacred and should not be artificially manipulated or modified. The Church's stance against surrogacy, which involves the scientifically assisted gestation and delivery of a baby by a woman other than its biological mother, is prohibited on the same ethical grounds as "gender affirming" treatments.

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Graebe explained to Fox News Digital, "[Gender ideology and surrogacy] both speak to the integrity of the body and the fact that to be human is to be body and soul." He continued, "And so both gender theory and surrogacy – they manipulate the body in a way that goes against God's intention for it. And they treat the body – the way they approach it – almost as commodities."

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Surrogacy, often facilitated via in vitro fertilization, typically involves the artificial fertilization of multiple human embryos, some of which are then frozen or destroyed. The Catholic Church has expressed serious concerns about the international industry surrounding surrogate pregnancies, where couples from affluent countries pay for their embryos to be carried to term by impoverished women in developing nations.

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Graebe clarified, "It's not that we don't want couples to have children. No one's a bigger proponent of children and families in the Catholic Church, but that doesn't come at any cost or by any means." He added, "Children are a gift from God, not a commodity to be purchased at a price."

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Outside the Catholic Church, in vitro fertilization procedures have sparked intense debate among members of the pro-life movement, who are grappling to establish a coherent stance on fertility technology.

"Infinite Dignity" will be the first significant document prepared by the dicastery since "Fiducia Supplicans," which outlined the circumstances under which individuals in same-sex or otherwise "irregular" couples can receive individual blessings without approval of their relationship.

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While "Fiducia Supplicans" did not authorize same-sex marriages, it was met with severe criticism from Catholic bishops globally. They accused the dicastery of using ambiguous language that could potentially confuse the faithful.

Graebe commented, "I think the document [Infinite Dignity] is a timely one. I would say that I look forward to it in the sense that this is an issue that Pope Francis has been particularly outspoken on and sometimes in a very strong way." He added, "To the extent that it is a response to the outcry of Fiducia Supplicans – I don't know if this had been intended all along or this is a way to reassure."