Vatican's Take On Sex-Change Surgery & Surrogacy: What You Must Know

The Vatican issued a statement on April 8th, 2024, called "Dignitas Infinita" (Infinite Dignity), highlighting its rejection of sex changes, gender theory, surrogate parenthood, abortion, euthanasia, and other issues viewed as endangering human dignity. This declaration comes after four months of controversy when the Vatican supported blessings for same-sex couples, which provoked significant conservative backlash, particularly in Africa.

What Does "Dignitas Infinita" Entail? 

The Vatican's doctrinal office (DDF) has released a declaration after five years of meticulous revisions. Although it is not directly related to the recent debates over same-sex blessings, the timing suggests that it aims to address the evolving discourse on LGBT issues within the Church. Pope Francis, who approved the declaration, mandated the inclusion of additional themes such as poverty, migration, violence against women, human trafficking, and war, reflecting the Church's broader concerns for social justice and human rights.

Key Tenets of the Declaration

1. Surrogacy and Parenthood: The Vatican has expressed a clear and firm condemnation of surrogate parenthood, stating that it goes against the dignity of both the child and the surrogate mother. This position is consistent with Pope Francis' strong disapproval of surrogacy, which he has described as "despicable" and urged the international community to impose a worldwide ban on this practice.
2. Gender Theory and Self-Determination: The declaration also  cautions against gender theory that promotes the idea of personal self-determination without considering the fundamental truth of human existence as a gift. It criticizes gender ideology for claiming that gender identity is beyond traditional binary categories. The Vatican disagrees with this idea, arguing that it risks individuals taking the place of divine authority and distorting the essence of human nature, as explained in the Gospel.
3. Sex Change Interventions: The Vatican emphasizes the inherent dignity of individuals from conception. While genital abnormalities can be addressed medically, procedures to alter biological sex are cautioned against.
4. Condemnation of Discrimination and Violence: The declaration denounces any form of discrimination or violence based on sexual orientation, highlighting the plight of individuals who 'face persecution solely due to their sexual orientation'.
5. On violence against women & online abuse: Furthermore, the declaration acknowledges the prevalence of sexual abuse within society, calling it 'a threat to human dignity', including instances within the Catholic Church as well as violence against women, cyberbullying, and online abuse

Pope's Stand on Surrogacy

On January 8th, 2024, Pope Francis called for a universal ban on surrogacy. He said that it is a 'despicable practice' that allows the commercialization of pregnancy. He said this in Vatican City in a foreign policy address to ambassadors accredited to the Holy See. In his speech, he listed threats to peace and human dignity, which included surrogacy. 

The Pope lamented that 2024 has started when peace is "increasingly threatened, weakened, and, in some parts, lost.” He spoke about Russia’s war in Ukraine, the Israel-Hamas war, the issue of migration, climate crises, and the “immoral” production of nuclear and conventional weapons. Francis Pope said that these ills are afflicting humanity. Amongst these larger issues, he also focused on small-scale issues that are threatening peace and human dignity, specifically surrogacy. 

He said the life of the unborn child should be protected and not "suppressed or turned into an object of trafficking.” He further added, "I consider despicable the practice of so-called surrogate motherhood, which represents a grave violation of the dignity of the woman and the child, based on the exploitation of situations of the mother’s material needs." He said that a child is a gift and “never the basis of a commercial contract." "At every moment of its existence, human life must be preserved and defended," he said.

Therefore, he called for a universal ban on surrogacy and to prohibit this practice universally. 

Surrogacy in Other Countries

Surrogacy is banned in many countries despite the presence of legal protection for surrogate mothers, intended parents, and children. Although surrogate contracts are common in the United States, they are banned in parts of Europe, including Spain and Italy. In the United Kingdom, surrogacy is legal but restricted. In India, although surrogacy is allowed, the Delhi High Court recently condemned it. It said, "This industry (surrogacy) need not be encouraged here. You are based in Canada. You cannot run an industry here. This will become a billion-dollar industry. "

Critics of surrogacy believe that surrogacy targets women who are from poor and vulnerable communities. While the supporters are of the stance that surrogacy gives women a chance to provide children to childless couples. Moreover, they affirm that there are commercial contracts to support the rights of both the surrogate mothers and the intended parents. 

In January, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops quoted Francis Pope's words on surrogacy to explain why surrogacy is morally not permissible by the Catholic Church and said, "Instead, we should pray for and work towards a world that upholds the profound dignity of every person, at every stage and in every circumstance of life."