Bishop Robert Barron has expressed his support for a presidential decree recently signed by Donald Trump, prohibiting the U.S. federal government from promoting or funding surgeries and procedures related to transgender identity for children. This legislative act, titled "Protecting Children from Chemical and Surgical Mutilation," was signed on January 28 and marks a clear stance against irreversible medical interventions on young people.
In a statement released on January 29, the Bishop of Winona-Rochester, who also chairs the Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life, and Youth for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, emphasized the importance of helping young people accept their bodies and their vocation as men and women. According to him, it is this acceptance that truly leads to freedom and happiness.
The decree specifies that U.S. policy is not to fund, promote, or support such procedures for children, and that it will vigorously enforce all laws prohibiting or limiting these interventions. Barron praised this decision, calling it indispensable in the face of an ideology that, in his view, leads many young people to profound regret, often associated with irreversible consequences such as infertility and dependence on costly hormonal treatments with significant side effects.
President Trump described the ability of adults to attempt to alter a child's sex through irreversible medical interventions as a "radical and false claim." He warned that this dangerous trend could be a stain on the nation's history. The decree also notes that many children regret having undergone sex reassignment surgeries, realizing too late the tragedies associated with their choice, including the inability to conceive or breastfeed children.
The text defines a child as an individual under the age of 19 and directs federal agencies to modify or revoke all policies based on the recommendations of the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH). It also calls on the Secretary of Health and Human Services to publish a review of best practices for the health of children experiencing gender dysphoria or other identity confusion.
Bishop Barron highlighted the importance of this part of the decree, noting that it is essential to research and develop evidence-based therapies to help young people struggling with gender dysphoria. These individuals, he said, are loved by God and possess the same inherent dignity as every human being. He added that they deserve care that heals rather than harms, recalling the message of Pope Francis in Dignitas Infinita, which calls for accepting the gift of our bodies created in the image of God, male and female.
This decree is part of a series of measures signed by Donald Trump at the beginning of his second term, aimed at overturning many policies established by the previous administration of Joe Biden. This initiative has already sparked intense debate within society, but for the Catholic Church and many of the faithful, it represents a significant step forward in protecting children.