White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre addressed questions on Monday regarding Pope Francis’ recent declaration condemning gender theory, emphasizing President Biden’s support for the transgender community.
A reporter raised concerns about the Pope’s document, which reaffirms the Catholic Church’s stance against attempts to change a person’s immutable gender. Jean-Pierre, however, declined to comment specifically on Biden’s view of the document, emphasizing instead the president’s commitment to LGBTQ+ rights.
“We are pleased to see that the document… furthered the Vatican’s call to protect LGBTQ+ individuals from violence and imprisonment worldwide,” Jean-Pierre responded. “The president will continue advocating for the rights, safety, and dignity of the LGBTQ+ community, including transgender individuals in the U.S.”
When pressed about the document’s stance on gender theory and transgender individuals, Jean-Pierre was cautious. “The president’s role is not to litigate internal Church policy,” she said. “But I can speak to the president’s stance, which has always been clear on the importance of protecting the transgender community and broader LGBTQ+ rights since day one of his administration.”
Pope Francis’ declaration, titled “Dignitas Infinita” (Infinite Dignity), addresses numerous contemporary issues through scriptural and church teachings, including abortion, human trafficking, poverty, euthanasia, and others.
In addressing gender theory, the document questions the scientific coherence of gender theory and emphasizes the belief that human life, both physical and spiritual, is a gift from God. It warns against desires for personal self-determination that conflict with the understanding that human life is a divine gift.
This position is not new for the Church, as Pope Francis has previously expressed concerns about gender ideology as dangerous ideological colonization.
The document also highlights the significance of sexual difference and the complementary nature of male-female relationships, emphasizing the beauty and power of this foundational difference in creating new life.
Additionally, the document reaffirms the Church’s teachings on abortion and expresses ethical concerns about surrogate pregnancies, echoing the Pope’s recent call for a global ban on surrogacy.
