Bishop explains why Church is strongly against sex change

A Catholic prelate is not in favor of sex change, a procedure that changes genital organs from one gender to another, saying its unnecessary.

Cebu Auxiliary Bishop Oscar Jaime Florencio is opposed to such a procedure saying the teaching of the Church is very clear that “changes or mutilation done in one’s body, which is not necessary, is putting themselves as gods.”

Those who may be planning to undergo such a procedure, he said should ask themselves if such a procedure is really necessary or is it out of caprice only.

“We have to ask ourselves in our Philippine setting: ‘Is it really necessary... or is it just a caprice?,’” said Florencio in a CBCP News post.

The known formator in the Archdiocese of Palo and former rector of the St. John the Evangelist School of Theology, is all for the need to analyze the real reasons why a person wants a sex change.

“If we will have to answer and we see there is a big (economic) gap between persons around us and it is not necessary or it is just a caprice, then we have to ask ‘What is the problem?,” said Florencio.

The prelate, however, stressed that people should not discriminate against those who identify as LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender).

“These people should instead try to consider what pushes them to actually consider having surgical operations done on their body,” said Florencio.

The Archdiocese of Palo through its spokesman Fr. Chris Arthur Militante already said the Church does not discriminate against the LGBT persons and instead welcomes those who consider themselves belonging to the said group.

He, nevertheless, stressed that the Church is constant and resolute in condemning homosexual acts.

Militante explained that in the Book of Genesis it is clear that God created only Adam, a man, and Eve, a woman, and no in-between gender.

Still, Florencio and Militante both recognize LGBT individuals’ need for counseling.

He will be formally installed as Auxiliary Bishop of Cebu following his episcopal consecration on September 4 at the Palo Cathedral.