Catholic diocese tells priests to deny baptism & communion to transgender people until they “repent”

The document instructs priests to deny baptism, communion, confirmation, and rites meant to comfort the sick and dying. This is the exact opposite of the teachings found in the Bible.

A priest is shown distributing communion during a service
Photo: Wikimedia Commons

A Catholic diocese in Michigan has instructed priests to deny baptism and communion to transgender and non-binary people unless they “repent.”

While the Vatican under Pope Francis has made tepid outreach to the LGBTQ community, American Catholic leadership has become blatantly antagonistic. Bishops have launched crusades to drive out queer and allied teachers, office workers, and choir leaders while fighting for their “religious freedom” to violate nondiscrimination laws.

Related: German Catholic churches are defying the Vatican & blessing same-sex unions

The guidance issued by the Diocese of Marquette is flatly anti-Christian, according to most observers. They say the actions likely violate church canon since baptism is meant to symbolize forgiveness from sin.

“There’s nobody who approaches baptism from a state of perfection,” Jennifer Haselberger, a former chancellor for canonical affairs in the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, told the Washington Post. “The presumption is the opposite. You come to baptism as a sinner, and original sin is forgiven you.”

But diocese leaders have decreed that being transgender is a choice while sexual orientation isn’t. Being gay is only a sin if…

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