Fear of looking unscientific and unreasonable drives Vatican decisions.
This is where the RC tradition over scripture and the Christianization of rationalism leads.
The problem is Aquinas was a genius, but modern rationalist in today's Vatican are not smart enough to do what Aquinas tried to do, thus you get confusing ideas that seem to cause divisions.



https://www.npr.org/2023/11/10/1212319566/the-vatican-says-priests-can-baptize-transgender-people#:~:text=The%20Vatican%20says%20transgender%20people,or%20confusion%20among%20the%20faithful.%22

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The Vatican says transgender people can be baptized within the church, as long as doing so doesn't create "public scandal or confusion among the faithful."

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No risk of that.

Martin Q. Blank said:

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Quote:

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The Vatican says transgender people can be baptized within the church, as long as doing so doesn't create "public scandal or confusion among the faithful."

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No risk of that.

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The term 'scandal' in the context that the Vatican is using it means to not cause another temptation or to sin. I don't necessarily agree with the decision...except....I get that the point of it is not to close the door on anyone. Just like any other denomination, regardless of ones mistakes, all should be welcome if they accept Christ. I would imagine most don't turn away transgenders though they most certainly would not permit them to continue leading others down a sinful path.

Christ would allow anyone to be baptized if He thought they had a mustard seed of faith. Take away the term 'transgender' and replace it with sinner then the same would apply. The expectation is growing in and living out their faith. Some one who gets baptized and then continues to sin still has to be accountable

Martin Q. Blank said:

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I have yet to come across a transgender person who did not try to convince others to accept their delusion. To believe a lie. To tempt others to sin.

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Not at all. You should get out more often. If anything, you are sinning by judging others in this way.

What Biblical version are you citing? (i.e., RSV?)

I'm interested because you are quoting "men who practice homosexuality" and the version I read (RSV) goes:

"Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither the immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor sexual perverts,"

PabloSerna said:

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Martin Q. Blank said:

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I have yet to come across a transgender person who did not try to convince others to accept their delusion. To believe a lie. To tempt others to sin.

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Not at all. You should get out more often. If anything, you are sinning by judging others in this way.

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I don't know what this means. When someone tries to convince you to believe a lie, that is tempting them.

PabloSerna said:

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What Biblical version are you citing? (i.e., RSV?)

I'm interested because you are quoting "men who practice homosexuality" and the version I read (RSV) goes:

"Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither the immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor sexual perverts,"

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ESV. Regardless of the sin, the point is they used to be that, now they are this. Is that what the Vatican still teaches? Why continue to call them transgender then as they come to baptism?

And such were some of you. But you were washed...

Martin Q. Blank said:

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I have yet to come across a transgender person who did not try to convince others to accept their delusion. To believe a lie. To tempt others to sin.

If they are coming to baptism as repentant sinners, they would not willingly identify as transgender as they seek a life of growth and faith.

1 Cor. 6:9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. [not anymore] But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

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Well, I don't know their hearts so I have no idea of their status when they come baptism. I still identified as a sinner when I came to baptism. And guess what I am still a sinner but I continue every day to continue to grow in by faith in Christ. If those who come to baptism do not sin any more at all, bully for them. Either way we repentant and have been forgiven.

We can scripture mine all day but keeping the door open to them is absolutely what Christ teaches. They just cannot continue on that path.

As I said, I'm not for the Vatican's decision because I think its a slippery slope. But they certainly would never be able to take communion because you do have to be in a state of grace, being repentant and having examined oneself. So if engaging in a mortal sin (Homosexuality, etc) you cannot receive it.

ETA: I have yet to come across a transgendered person at all, so I accept that you likely have more experience with their tendencies first hand.