Vatican rejects gender change to alarm of LGBTQ Catholics
Pope Francis (Kait Privitera/City of Philadelphia)
VATICAN CITY - The Vatican has issued a document rejecting the idea that people can choose or change their assigned genders.
The document issued Monday - during LGBTQ pride month - is the Vatican's first on gender theory. In it, the Vatican also insists on the sexual complementarity of men and women.
LGBTQ Catholics immediately denounced it as harmful and contributing to hatred, bigotry and violence against gay and transgender people.
Advocacy group New Ways Ministry said it will confuse people who are struggling with questions about gender identity and sexual orientation.
The text, "Male and Female He Created Them," was issued by the Congregation for Catholic Education, which said it was intended to help Catholic teachers, parents, students and clergy address the "educational crisis" in the field of teaching sexuality.