Vatican Allows Transgender People to Be Baptized and Be Witnesses at Weddings

Transgender people can be baptized on an equal basis with cisgender believers. The fact that there are generally no obstacles to this is stated in the explanation of the Dicastery of the Doctrine of Faith .

Transgender people can also act as witnesses during a wedding and be godparents. The exceptions are situations in which there is a risk of causing a public scandal or "disorientation among believers."

The explanations from the Dicastery for the Doctrine of Faith were given as part of the answers to questions about the participation of LGBTQ people in the sacraments of baptism and marriage, which were sent to the Vatican in the summer by Brazilian Bishop José Negri. The answers were given under the signature of the head of the Dicastery, Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernandez, and Pope Francis.

At the same time, the cardinal and the pope gave a less than clear answer to the question of whether a homosexual couple can baptize their child, including one conceived through surrogacy. This, the answer says, is only possible in the case of "reasonable hope that he will receive an education in the Catholic religion."

• In October, the Holy Synod met in the Vatican to discuss issues related to the status of women in the church and the church's attitude towards the LGBT community. Analysts assumed that, despite the resistance of conservatives, "revolutionary" decisions on the inclusiveness of the church could be made as a result of the meeting. The final documents are expected to be formulated and published no earlier than 2025.