U.S. bishops officially ban gender-affirming care at Catholic hospitals

"U.S. Catholic bishops voted Wednesday to make official a ban on gender-affirming care for transgender patients at Catholic hospitals. The step formalizes a yearslong process for the U.S. church to address transgender health care. From a Baltimore hotel ballroom, the bishops overwhelmingly approved revisions to their ethical and religious directives that guide the nation's thousands of Catholic health care institutions and providers. More than one in seven patients in the U.S. are treated each day at Catholic hospitals, according to the Catholic Health Association. Catholic hospitals are the only medical center in some communities. Major medical groups and health organizations support gender-affirming care for transgender patients."

"Most Catholic health care institutions have taken a conservative approach and not offered gender-affirming care, which may involve hormonal, psychological and surgical treatments. The new directives will formalize that mandate. Bishops will have autonomy in making the directives into law for their dioceses. "With regard to the gender ideology, I think it's very important the church makes a strong statement here," said Bishop Robert Barron of Minnesota's Winona-Rochester diocese during the public discussion of the revised directives."

U.S. Catholic bishops voted to ban gender-affirming care for transgender patients at Catholic hospitals. The bishops approved revisions to ethical and religious directives that guide thousands of Catholic health care institutions. More than one in seven U.S. patients are treated daily at Catholic hospitals, and some communities rely solely on Catholic medical centers. Major medical groups support gender-affirming care, but most Catholic institutions have not offered hormonal, psychological, or surgical treatments. The new directives formalize that mandate and permit bishops to adopt them as law in their dioceses. The Catholic Health Association said providers will continue to welcome transgender patients with dignity.

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