Does the Church consider a person with Swyer Syndrome to be male or female

[Bhaoirluin]

Today I watched the show Mystery Diagnosis which featured a person with Swyer Syndrome. People with this condition are genetically male with one X and one Y chromosome, but the gene on the Y chromosome that initiates male sex determination is defective and so the person’s body develops into a female but without ovaries, so they cannot enter puberty and require hormone therapy to develop female secondary sex characteristics. Such people are considered by society to be female, but what would the Catholic Church teach regarding what the gender is of this genetically male but phenotypically female person? And would a “women” with this condition be able to be validly married according to the Church’s teachings?

 

[Jennet]

Being as those with Swyer syndrome develop as females, I should think the Church accepts them as such, regardless of their chromosomes.

 

[DaveBj]

I would tend to agree with Jennet, but I seriously doubt that one can find anywhere an official Church ruling on this or other similar issues. All we can do is guess.