The Vatican: trans and gay people will be able to receive baptism and be godparents and witnesses at weddings

The Prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, Victor Manuel Fernandez, recently approved some indications regarding participation in the sacraments of baptism and marriage by transsexual people and gay people.

According to these new directives, people transsexuals can request and receive the baptism, unless there are situations that could generate public scandal or confusion among the faithful. They can also be godparents and wedding witnesses in church. Also children of homosexual couples, born via rented womb, they can be baptized. The condition remains that there is a well-founded hope that they will be educated in the Catholic faith.

Baptism also granted to gay parents

These decisions were approved by Papa Francesco on October 31st. Certainly this decision will not be free from controversy. Papa Francesco has repeatedly stated that the Church is not a customs house and should not close doors to anyone, especially regarding baptism.

As regards the baptismal godparents and wedding witnesses, the Vatican has proposed innovative indications. They can be admitted if there is no risk of scandal, inappropriate legitimation or confusion in the ecclesial community.

There is no impediment for a transsexual person to be a witness to a wedding, as the canonical legislation current does not prohibit it. About people gay, can be parents of a child to be baptized, whether adopted or obtained through other methods provided that the child is educated in the Catholic religion.

This decision was a big step and a great demonstration of openness of the Church that could never have been imagined before today. The world changes and evolves and the Church adapts to these changes, always respecting the will of God and the internal rules of the Ecclesiastical Community. Whatever happens, there remains one great victory.