Girl or Guy?

[Zoe_Brain]

Before we go any further on this, I think it all comes down to defining what is a man, and what is a woman. And although for 59 people out of 60, that’s simple and obvious, mere “common sense”, it’s a little more difficult for the 1 in 60, and a whole heck of a lot more difficult for 1 in 1000. For 1 in 100,000 the question may even be meaningless, as neither fits.

I think before commenting further, people should look at the following threads. There’s a lot of good information on the biological issues there, and an expert opinion from a canon lawyer that is extremely helpful in deciding what the Church’s position actually is.

Transsexualism - why is it so despised?
What is the Church’s position on the Intersexed and Transsexed?
Sex-change: Hypothetical situation
Is transgender a sin?
Theology of the Body–as it relates to transgender
Overcoming Transgender Issues

The later threads are more valuable, because much of what was “thought to be true” in 2004 has been “proven to be true” in the last 5 years. Note that the Church’s *sub secretum *statement was issued in 2000, based on the state of scientific knowledge in the 1990’s. Nonetheless, though they may have got some of the details wrong (like what transsexuality actually is, and what causes it…), they got the basics right.

The Church teaches that gender is innate and immutable.I agree completely, and will even go so far as to say it’s set at about the 12th week of gestation, when the lymbic system of the brain first starts to develop. All of the other criteria are mutable by circumstance, genetic or environmental accident, or by human intervention. Yes, even the chromosomes - a pregnant woman carrying a boy child will have some cells in her bloodstream from the foetus, so a simple karyotype or genetic test may show she is male. She temporarily becomes a mosaic.

The Church also teaches that surgery to alter the body does not alter the innate gender. I agree there too. Neurology is all, external shape nothing.

Finally the Church teaches that sex reassignment surgery may be moral in extreme cases to relieve distress - which I take to mean when the body shape and neurology don’t match, a hideously uncomfortable situation for the patient.

I don’t agree though that everyone is either male or female. A number of people have neurology that fits neither stereotype well. They almost always have very severe Intersex conditions as well, so their gender is indeterminate. Not a “third sex” so much as “neutral”.

 

[Jermosh]

I have dealt with transsexuals in the past and work with a few. I treat them with respect and acknowledge them as they like.

There are some case studies in finding a link with this and young childhood, as early as being born we define our gender by our environment and how we are treated in feminine or masculine interactions. There is a famous story about this happening with gender roles, it has a very sad ending though. slate.com/id/2101678/

 

[Theresa_Frances]

Finally the Church teaches that sex reassignment surgery may be moral in extreme cases to relieve distress - which I take to mean when the body shape and neurology don’t match, a hideously uncomfortable situation for the patient.

Is this a pastoral decision as I undersatnd it was at one time? Will the Curch recognize the reassigned gender in relation to that person’s eligibilty for matrimony in the reassigned gender. Many medical oppinions now consider reassignment as genital reassignment not gender reassignment, with the belief that gender is in the mind and the person’s genitalia is reassigned to conform with their self concept of gender. I have also seen it references to it as gender affirmation surgery, affirming the physical gender to be in concert with the mental concept of gender. Considering that an otherwise very conservative Catholic individual would consider such an extensive medical procedure, I believe would give some credence to the validity of the need and moral correctness of this type of procedure. I agree the destroying functional organs is a drastic step but how else can a young person deal with facing a life long struggle of functioning in a physical state that does not conform to their mental concept of themselves? In a case where the person lives in their new gender and can function as a caring and charitable person who would have otherwise been caught up in their own issues and not have been a socially functional and loving person is their hope that a person who wants to continue their relationship to the Church can also be accepted after transitioning and physically having the cosmetic surgical procedure to conform her body to her mind?

 

[hyflyer64]

Finally the Church teaches that sex reassignment surgery may be moral in extreme cases to relieve distress - which I take to mean when the body shape and neurology don’t match, a hideously uncomfortable situation for the patient.

Is this a pastoral decision as I undersatnd it was at one time? Will the Curch recognize the reassigned gender in relation to that person’s eligibilty for matrimony in the reassigned gender. Many medical oppinions now consider reassignment as genital reassignment not gender reassignment, with the belief that gender is in the mind and the person’s genitalia is reassigned to conform with their self concept of gender. I have also seen it references to it as gender affirmation surgery, affirming the physical gender to be in concert with the mental concept of gender. Considering that an otherwise very conservative Catholic individual would consider such an extensive medical procedure, I believe would give some credence to the validity of the need and moral correctness of this type of procedure. I agree the destroying functional organs is a drastic step but how else can a young person deal with facing a life long struggle of functioning in a physical state that does not conform to their mental concept of themselves? In a case where the person lives in their new gender and can function as a caring and charitable person who would have otherwise been caught up in their own issues and not have been a socially functional and loving person is their hope that a person who wants to continue their relationship to the Church can also be accepted after transitioning and physically having the cosmetic surgical procedure to conform her body to her mind?

Sorry hun, but for the time bing the Church views GRS as nothing more than cosmetic surgery. They only recognize the gender the person appears to be at birth.