In response to Pope Francis’ recent critique of gender theory, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre reaffirmed President Joe Biden’s commitment to supporting the transgender community. The Pope’s statement, which was part of a larger document titled “Dignitas Infinita,” criticized attempts to change one’s biological sex as misguided efforts to usurp divine authority. Despite the Vatican’s stance, Jean-Pierre highlighted Biden’s ongoing advocacy for the rights and dignity of LGBTQ+ individuals, including transgender Americans.
Jean-Pierre carefully navigated the discussion, emphasizing that it wasn’t the President’s place to engage in debates over internal Church policies. Instead, she focused on Biden’s clear stance from the beginning of his administration on the importance of protections for the transgender and broader LGBTQ+ communities. This comes as the Vatican’s document, developed over five years by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, touches on various issues threatening human dignity today, including abortion, human trafficking, poverty, euthanasia, and the death penalty.
“Dignitas Infinita,” which translates to “Infinite Dignity,” delves into gender theory among its many topics, suggesting that human life, in all its dimensions, is a divine gift that should be accepted with gratitude. The document argues that seeking self-determination in contradiction to this gift echoes an ancient temptation to compete with God. Pope Francis, who has previously described gender ideology as one of the most perilous ideological colonizations of our time, maintains that sexual difference is not only the most significant distinction among living beings but also a source of beauty and power.
The Vatican’s stance on gender theory, emphasizing the miraculous and reciprocal nature of the male-female relationship and its role in the continuation of human life, reaffirms the Church’s traditional teachings. Additionally, the document reiterates the Church’s opposition to abortion and surrogate pregnancies, calling for a global prohibition of the latter.
As debates over gender identity and rights continue to evolve, the Biden administration’s response to the Vatican’s latest pronouncement underscores the ongoing dialogue between religious doctrine and secular governance on issues of human dignity and identity.