Catholic Doctors in Denmark assess that sex change treatment is not in accordance with human dignity. Therefore, it is advised not to participate in such treatment.
Like the entire cosmos and the development of biological life, humans as male and female were created by God. Each individual’s understanding of this is a necessary prerequisite for fully achieving self-knowledge and self-respect. The sex-determined body is inextricably linked to the human soul in the development of personal meaning in life. In 2024, Pope Francis clarified the Church’s view of human dignity both in the letter Dignitas infinita and in several public statements [1, 2]. In addition to a beautiful clarification of the Christian view of the inalienable and equal dignity of each individual, the Pope also took a position on a number of contemporary challenges and attacks on this dignity. Among other things, the Pope completely rejected the legitimacy of medical or surgical changes of a human being’s sexual characteristics.
Catholic medical associations around the world have also addressed sex change treatment, and for example the Catholic Medical Association in the United States has concluded that in recent years there has been extensive ideologically motivated mutilation not only of adults but also of children and adolescents [3]. In addition, the treatments cause significant side effects (including sterility), and the suicide risk is significantly increased, e.g. 19 times higher in a Swedish study from 2011 [4].
The WHO ICD-10 diagnosis F64.0 transsexualism from 1989 has had various names (primarily transgenderism and gender dysphoria), but in the ICD-11 draft from 2022 the diagnosis has been moved from the category Mental illnesses to Gender-related conditions HA60 Gender incongruence (Danish DZ768E gender incongruence in the neutral category Contacts with the health service).
In Denmark, the purpose of health service treatment – both medical and surgical – is to be ‘gender affirming’. However, this does not mean supporting the patient’s mental sexual identity in accordance with the patient’s biological sex (i.e. male or female gametes), but rather bringing the external sexual characteristics into partial harmony with the patient’s subjective sense of sexual identity (‘gender’) [5].
In line with other Catholic medical associations, Catholic Doctors in Denmark believe that sex change treatment of biologically healthy people is unethical. Gender dysphoria should be treated as the mental illness it is, if it occurs in adults. Mutilating medical or surgical procedures on healthy genitals should never take place in a civilized society with respect for the integrity and dignity of every human being.
Copenhagen, August 15, 2025
Board of Directors
www.klida.dk
References:
1) vero.dk/katolsk-menneskesyn/
2) www.pbs.org/newshour/world/vatican-characterizes-gender-affirming-surgery-surrogacy-as-violations-of-human-dignity
3) www.cathmed.org/resources/the-ideology-of-gender-harms-children/
4) journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0016885
5) www.sst.dk/da/Fagperson/Seksuel-sundhed-seksualitet-og-koensidentitet/K%C3%B8nsidentitet/Koensidentitetsforhold