Christian Matson / Facebook
CV NEWS FEED // The editorial board for Our Sunday Visitor (OSV) News recently published an editorial stating that the Kentucky diocese statement about a “transgender” hermit – in which the diocese used male pronouns when referring to a biological female – “betrays the truth… and sets a disturbing and dangerous precedent for the local and national Church.”
On May 21, the Diocese of Lexington, Kentucky, issued a statement about a hermit who identifies as “Brother” Christian Matson, a biological woman who announced on Pentecost Sunday that she is “transgender.”
“He (Matson) does not seek ordination, but has professed a rule of life that allows him to support himself financially by continuing his work in the arts and to live a life of contemplation in a private hermitage,” the Diocesan statement read.
The statement added that Bishop John Stowe of the Diocese of Lexington “accepted his (Matson’s) profession and is grateful to Brother Christian for his witness of discipleship, integrity and contemplative prayer for the Church.”
>>Kentucky diocese uses male pronouns for biological female in statement on ‘transgender’ hermit<<
On May 29, Our Sunday Visitor’s editorial board, which includes Father Patrick Briscoe, O.P., Matthew Kirby, York Young, Gretchen Crowe, and Scott Richert, wrote in an article that the diocesan statement is concerning for several reasons.
“In approving Matson’s choices and referring to her as a man, Bishop Stowe is fomenting confusion among the faithful,” they wrote. “The bishop’s choice to condone Matson’s deliberate rejection of her biological sex advances an ideology that radically betrays the perennial teaching of the Church.”
The editors highlighted the recent Vatican document Dignitas Infinita on Human Dignity, which directly states that sex change is dangerous and harmful to human persons, who are made in the image and likeness of God.
“The decision to allow Matson, who, despite medical interventions, remains a woman, to make religious profession as a man betrays the Truth — and betrays the Church’s duty to accompany her toward beatitude,” the editors wrote:
Catholic teaching cannot support the rejection of one’s God-given sex or condone a sex change. The Church cannot call Matson “brother” or refer to Matson as a man. To do so perpetuates a lie and creates grave scandal in the name of the Church, under the banner of religious life approved by Bishop Stowe.
The editors wrote that showing love and respect to all people is a major part of Church teaching, but “this does not equate to a universal acceptance of every lifestyle or even belief about oneself.”
“True charity involves guiding every person toward truth, including the truth of human sexuality contained in Church teaching,” they continued. “God made human beings in his image: ‘Male and female, he created them.’ It is false charity to turn a blind eye to reality, much less to encourage those who have embraced falsehood to continue in their error.”
They also extended words of encouragement to Matson, emphasizing that she is loved by God.
“We encourage Matson to remain close to God in prayer and believe this can be accommodated within the Church in a pastorally sensitive way that does not cause confusion. She is a beloved child of God and her life can be holy and fulfilled,” the editors added.
The editors also called for Church leaders to “provide clear, compassionate and doctrinally sound guidance on how to care for those who identify as transgender,” in such a way that remains faithful to the Gospel.
“Possessing the truth of the human person allows us — in fact, compels us — to help lead individuals who are struggling with their sexuality from darkness to light. It’s not an easy journey, but it’s one that can make all the difference in their lives, and in ours,” they concluded.
