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Thinking about becoming Roman Catholic - should I wait till full time?

Started by Rosa, December 31, 2011, 05:58:41 PM

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Rosa

For a long time I've thought about becoming Roman Catholic.  Its not a far jump from what I've been, but I won't go into the reasons as I'm mainly interested in transitioning into the church in the best way.  I can start the process now and transition in the church, or, I can wait until I at least present as a woman and start the process that way.  One problem is timing - the church usually only takes new converts at a certain time of the year.  Any advice from current or former catholics?
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caseyyy

Speaking as a former Catholic, I would wait. The reason being that if you are baptized as male, they will never change it on your certificate, that's the church's official policy. I'm not sure how it would work if you were full-time...if they knew you were born male that would be it, but I'm not sure if they could actually find that out if you were full-time and had female gender markers.
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Rosa

If I understand correctly, the church would accept my previous baptism (of course the certificate has my male name on it though) but I would need to go through catechism and confirmation, I think.  I was confirmed in the Episcopal Church - transferring to RC is supposed to be easier, but not sure how.  I tend to agree with you though - might make a lot less problems, and maybe even better to get rebaptized - not sure.
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ToriJo

Most Catholic hospitals won't allow GRS, FFS, breast augmentation for a TS person, etc.  The ones that do only do so because they were sued.  They cite religious reasons.  They own a hospital near here - it terrifies me that my wife or I could be taken there by an ambulance if either of us were hurt.  I don't know if they would respect our marriage or treat her in a gender appropriate way.

The Vatican has said that post-op people committed a sin, can be forgiven, but basically should live as celebate.  That's their more accepting policy that they recently adopted.

Personally I would stay far from that organization.  You will be seen as someone who, according to Church teaching, has desecrated the body God gave you.  They also believe that your gender matches the sex organs you were born with.

Maybe you could pass and not be questioned.  But I personally wouldn't want to have to go to a church where I knew they don't approve of medical intervention that I needed, nor would I want to attend a church that thinks the ONLY legitimate way for me to live is to be celebate and single, and which is only this accepting after I confessed my sin and was remorseful and repentant for it.

I know not all Catholics think the same way as the Church leaders.  But the official statements of the Church are VERY anti-trans.
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sandra

Robertina,

I would tend to agree with Slanan.  But if you deeply feel Catholic at heart, you might want to contact
Roman Catholic Women Priests (of course, the Vatican doesn't recognize them, but their succession does
go back to a male RC bishop [anonymous] who was and is in good standing with the Vatican) and see if
one of their members is ministering in your area.  They are accepting of all people, including openly LGBT.

Just a thought -

Sandra
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Devin87

As a former die-hard Catholic, you won't be welcomed by the Church as a whole (maybe by some individual members of the Church, but not by the Church itself).    As long as you live as female, you probably can't be in communion with the Church and you probably won't be allowed to convert (it happens-- there was a lady I knew who wasn't allowed to convert because she was divorced and the Church didn't find there were grounds for an annulment.  So she was allowed to go to Mass and everything but couldn't receive communion and technically wasn't Catholic).  Also, to be Catholic by definition means to be in communion with the Church, so if you want to be Catholic, going to a womynpriest probably wouldn't be the answer as, as much as they call themselves Catholic, they're out of communion with the Church and thus not.  I guess it really depends on WHY you want to be Catholic if that's a good choice or not.  A lot of what you can get from the Catholic Church you can also get from the Anglican/Episcopalian Church, which tends to be a lot more open to LBGT issues.
In between the lines there's a lot of obscurity.
I'm not inclined to resign to maturity.
If it's alright, then you're all wrong.
Why bounce around to the same damn song?
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Rosa

I'm confirmed Episcopalian.  I plan to move and stay in Mexico and just felt it would be easier being Catholic since I would not likely find an Anglican church there.  If I convert to the church as a woman I don't think the church would find out, but that means I would probably have to wait for SRS and to have the gender marker on all my documents changed.

I'm more concerned about having fellowship with the local congregation, which I think is often quite different than the Holy See.  Will sort of be a "marriage of convenience"  for me, though I"m sure that the pope would not like it, he probably is to busy to be concerned about little o me.
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MrTesto

You may have joined this past Easter, so please pardon if this is response is belated.

However, there are Episcopal parishes in Mexico. And since the Episcopal Church has an arrangement (the Concordat) with the Lutherans, there is another possibility for find a church home. This isn't to say that all Episcopal parishes will be welcoming, nor that all Roman Catholic parishes will be hostile. However, the existence of policies in the US Episcopal Church that are trans-affirming at the national level could be a comfort and provide leverage in any discussions with local churches.

If you are still pursuing baptism and confirmation in the RC church, you might want to check out resources from Dignity, the LGBT Roman Catholic group in the US. For a number of years, it was run by an out trans woman. DignityUSA dot org has a section on transgender issues which you may find helpful.

I'm Episcopalian, so that's partly my bias. But more my bias is for you to find a place that works for your faith life, whatever the "brand name."   :) 
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justmeinoz

I am an Atheist now, but was a baptised Anglican.  My ex was RC and my children were raised in that church.
  The Vatican basically regards Transsexuals as being mentally ill and delusional, so I would be very careful about getting involved with the RCC.  At least the Anglican Church is open to discussion of GLBTI issues, on a local basis.
You should be able to find a Lutheran or Anglican parish on the internet.

Karen.


"Don't ask me, it was on fire when I lay down on it"
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