In USA, Catholics ban gender-affirming surgeries in church hospitals

A [lenary session of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in Baltimore on November 11, 2025. Photo: AP/Stephanie Scarbrough

On November 11, 2025, the Conference of Catholic Bishops of the USA officially approved a ban on any medical procedures related to gender transition in Catholic hospitals. The decision was made at a plenary session in Baltimore, formalized as amendments to the ethical and religious directives, reports Associated Press.

Catholic hospitals generally did not perform such procedures before, but now the ban becomes a strict norm mandatory for all institutions under the jurisdiction of the bishops. It concerns hormone therapy, any surgical interventions, and psychological support aimed at gender transition.

At the same time, Catholic medical institutions will remain accessible to all patients, including transgender individuals. As representatives of the Catholic Health Association emphasize, hospitals will continue to accept such people "with dignity and respect" but only for the treatment of common illnesses.

During the discussion, Bishop Robert Barron stated that the Church must "clearly state its position" on issues of gender ideology. The document is based on the Vatican's 2024 guidelines and the 2023 doctrinal note of American bishops, which explicitly prohibit medical interventions aimed at changing sexual characteristics.

The decision has sparked criticism from several progressive Catholic groups, who stated that for some transgender believers, medical transition is a "spiritual necessity".

Earlier, the UOJ reported that the US Supreme Court refused to review the decision on the legalization of gay marriages.

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