baptism Archives - New Ways Ministry

The Bishop Behind the Vatican’s Transgender-Welcoming Document on Sacraments

March 23, 2024/2 Comments/in Gender Identity, Hierarchy, Parish Life & Pastoral Care, Theology & Church Teaching /by Robert Shine, Managing Editor

When the Vatican affirmed transgender people could be baptized in 2023, officials were doing so in response to one bishop's questions about LGBTQ+ people and the Sacraments. Since then, Brazilian newspaper El País profiled that bishop, the details about how the Vatican's instructions came about, and what the whole story might mean. Read More

New Ways Ministry: Vatican’s Transgender Guidance Reflects Pope’s Pastoral Approach

November 9, 2023/3 Comments/in Gender Identity, Gender Policies, Hierarchy, Marriage & Family, New Ways Ministry, Parish Life & Pastoral Care, Pope Francis, Theology & Church Teaching /by Francis DeBernardo, Editor

The Vatican’s affirmation that transgender people should be welcomed in the church’s sacramental life signals Pope Francis’ desire for a pastorally-focused approach to LGBTQ+ issues is taking hold. Read More

Archbishop Wester Encourages Baptism for Children of LGBTQ+ Parents

August 4, 2022/1 Comment/in Hierarchy, Marriage & Family, Parish Life & Pastoral Care, Schools & Youth, Theology & Church Teaching, Uncategorized /by Robert Shine, Managing Editor

A U.S. archbishop has encouraged pastors to baptize the children of LGBTQ+ parents, including those in same-gender relationships. Read More

First Sunday of Lent: L I F E L I N E

February 21, 2021/1 Comment/in Scriptural Reflections /by Dwayne Fernandes

For the Sundays of Lent, Bondings 2.0 introduces new scriptural reflections for LGBTQ people and... Read More

In LGBTQ Welcome, Bishop Introduces Gender-Neutral Language for Baptismal Certificates

January 6, 2020/0 Comments/in Hierarchy, Marriage & Family, Parish Life & Pastoral Care, Schools & Youth, Theology & Church Teaching, Uncategorized /by Robert Shine, Managing Editor

The bishop charged with handling questions of canon law in France has encouraged his episcopal colleagues to use gender-neutral language on baptismal certificates in an effort to be more welcoming to LGBTQ parents. Read More

Results Mixed in Changing Church Records for Transgender and Intersex Catholics

November 25, 2019/2 Comments/in Gender Identity, Parish Life & Pastoral Care, Politics & Human Rights, Religious Liberty, Uncategorized /by Robert Shine, Managing Editor

Transgender and intersex Catholics have faced mixed results when requesting that church records be emended to reflect their actual names and gender identities. In Argentina, a transgender activist is suing a bishop who refused to change the activist's church records, a case that could now be taken up by the nation's Supreme Court. But in the Philippines, an intersex Catholic had their church records changed successfully. Read More