The Vatican says people identifying as transgender may be baptized

The Vatican’s doctrine office on Wednesday released a document signed by Pope Francis in late October saying priests may baptize openly transgender people. The document says such baptisms are only permitted if they do not cause “scandal or disorientation” among other Roman Catholics. Francis’ statement came in response to a set of questions submitted in July by Brazilian Bishop Giuseppe Negri.

What else did the new guidance say? Adults who have undergone transgender surgery could also serve as godparents and be witnesses in Catholic weddings under certain circumstances, according to the Vatican’s document. The document was somewhat vague in response to a question about whether a child adopted by a same-sex couple could be baptized. 

Dig deeper: Read Mary Jackson’s report in WORLD Magazine about how the push to accept homosexuality is creeping into evangelical churches.