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Those born with ambiguous gender are often made female shortly after brith but some identify themselves as male later. Since a priest is supposed to be celibate anyway, would he still be allowed to be a priest if his penis had been removed before an age of consent?

2006-09-11 20:14:28 · 9 answers · asked by tenaciousd 6 in Society & Culture Religion & Spirituality

9 answers

I don't know about current practice, but Huguccio wrote a commentary on Church law, the Summa, in 1188 AD, which states:

As to a hermaphrodite, if he has a beard and always wants to engage in manly activities and not in those of women, and if he always seeks the company of men and not of women, it is a sign that the masculine sex predominates in him and then he can be a witness where a woman is not allowed, namely with regard to a last will and testament, and he also can be ordained a priest.

If he however lacks a beard and always wants to be with women and be involved in feminine works, the judgment is that the feminine sex predominates in him and then he should not be admitted to giving any witness wherever women are not admitted, namely at a last will and testament, neither can he be ordained then because a woman cannot receive holy orders.

On Causa 27, quaestio 1, chapter 23, ad v.

With love in Christ.

2006-09-12 16:59:48 · answer #1 · answered by imacatholic2 7 · 2 0

I guess it depends what you are really asking.

There are many people who are born with ambiguous genitalia and you are right, what used to happen is that the doctors made the decision which sex the baby should be. Unfortunately, they didn't always make the right choice and that caused a lot of suffering in the person when he/she grew up.

However, these days we have genetic testing so it is possible to determine the true sex of a person more accurately. So I'd have thought, if the person could prove they were genetically male, the church would certainly not reject them just because a tragic mistake had been made when they were born.

However, I have often heard transgender men claim to be hermaphrodites, when in fact there was never any doubt what sex they were at birth. In this case, genetic testing would only prove that they are a woman, even though they identify 100% as a male. Unfortunately I don't think the church is broad-minded enough to accept such cases.

2006-09-11 20:30:29 · answer #2 · answered by Kylie 3 · 2 2

No, it isn't allowed. Hermaphrodites are called to be celibate laymen in the Church.

2006-09-11 20:16:29 · answer #3 · answered by Dysthymia 6 · 0 1

If you can't see his penis how would they know if he's he/she? I think he can move to another state as a female maybe and then be a priest.

2006-09-11 20:19:45 · answer #4 · answered by ♥c0c0puffz♥ 7 · 0 2

If the person is female the answer would be no. Classified as male, and yes.

2006-09-11 20:16:45 · answer #5 · answered by Augustine 6 · 1 1

Maybe they could be a priest and a nun at the same time. Either way, they won't pay taxes.

2006-09-11 20:18:34 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1 3

The D kicks a s s.

2006-09-11 20:18:00 · answer #7 · answered by meKrystle 3 · 1 3

no

2006-09-11 21:17:43 · answer #8 · answered by Marysia 7 · 1 2

No.

2006-09-11 20:20:15 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2 2

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