Catholic Church Will Not Allow Transgender Godparents

Pope Francis has been a breath of fresh air for the Catholic Church in many ways, from his revolutionary decision just last week allowing women who have had abortions to confess and be forgiven to his recognition of climate change and support of equal pay for women. But while he's certainly been more accepting of the LGBT community than past Vatican leaders, the progressive pope draws the line at transgender godparents. It all started when Spanish bishop Rafael Zornoza Boy requested guidance from the Vatican after Alex Salinas, a transgender man, asked to be recognized as his nephew's godparent at his baptism. The Church essentially said no, Reuters reports, responding to the bishop's inquiry with a statement saying that transgender people "publicly show an attitude contrary to the moral requirement to resolve one's sexual identity problem according to the truth of one's sex." "Pope Francis has effectively said on several occasions, in line with Church teaching, that this behavior is against man's nature," Boy wrote on his diocese's website. The bishop, who explained he made the inquiry in part due to publicity surrounding these issues, went on to say that the Church "wants to help everyone in their own situation with a compassionate heart, but without denying the truth it preaches." The Vatican, for its part, told Boy that this decision "should not be seen as discrimination." And while we're not so sure the trans community would agree, at least the subject is now being discussed by some of the world's most influential religious leaders. Baby steps.