Catholic bishops meet with trans families in St Louis 'to better understand the experience of trans people'

Over a dozen US Catholic bishops gathered at St. Louis University for a private meeting with transgender-identifying individuals and their families.

The event, organized by New Ways Ministry, a Catholic LGBTQ advocacy group, aimed to foster dialogue between people who identify as transgender and Catholic church officials. According to the New Catholic Reporter, the meeting was intended to provide an opportunity for bishops  to “better understand the experience of trans people and inform the pastoral care in their respective dioceses.”

Among the attending bishops was John Stowe from Kentucky, a member of the Order of Friars Minor Conventual who has frequently expressed support for more LGBTQ involvement in the Catholic church. Stowe emphasized the importance of respecting transgender individuals' self-identification, stating that transgender people “have a right to be called as they wish to be called.” Stowe also stated that  the issue of transgenderism is not something that is “Fabricated.”

"And if we would all stop and hear the struggles that individuals went through," Stowe said, "we'd realize this is not just an issue of gender theory; it's people's lived experience."

The Catholic church has continued to move toward a more LGBTQ-friendly direction, despite receiving backlash from devout Catholic members. In the past, Pope Francis has labeled gender ideology as dangerous because it "blurs the differences and the value of men and women." He also called for commissioned studies on gender theory, calling it an "ugly ideology."

"I have asked that studies be carried out into this ugly ideology of our times, which cancels out the differences and makes everything the same," the pope said. "Canceling out the differences means canceling out humanity."

However, Francis recently called for transgender-identifying individuals to be welcomed into the Sacramental life of the Catholic Church. Last October, Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández signed a statement with the approval of Pope Francis that extends opportunities for baptism, godparenthood, and participation to be witnesses for Catholic weddings for trans-identifying individuals.