The Vatican has affirmed its opposition to surrogate parenthood, sex changes, abortion, and euthanasia, in a text called Dignitas Infinita (Infinite Dignity).
It was signed by Pope Francis, whom many Catholics have criticised over what they believe is his liberal position on many social issues.
In 2023, Pope Francis said that transgender people could be baptised into the Catholic Church under certain circumstances, and that same-sex unions could be blessed by Catholic priests, also under certain circumstances.
Last year the Pope also instructed the Vatican’s direct office to look into issues facing the modern world, such as transgenderism and surrogate parenthood, with the Dignitas Infinita being the result.
According to the BBC, the document called abortion a ‘dangerous crisis of moral sense’ and said that surrogate parenthood was a violation of both the mother and the child.
It also said that the sex one was born with was a gift from God and looking to change it was a temptation to make oneself God.
Observers have said that this latest declaration from the Vatican shows that it is not easy to place Francis in either a ‘conservative’ or ‘progressive’ box.
Image by Jörg Upahl from Pixabay