The Vatican has issued a statement to say that transsexual people cannot become godparents.
The Vatican’s doctrinal arm was moved to explain their stance in response to a Spanish Bishop who wrote last month to seek clarification.
Reports say a “media firestorm” arose after a 21-year-old transsexual woman, who considers herself a man, asked to be the godfather of her nephew.
Bishop Rafael Zornoza Boy, of the Cádiz and Ceuta diocese, wrote to the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith about the issue and was told that it is “impossible” for transsexuals to fulfill their duties as a godparent.
Dr Rafael Zornoza Boy said in a statement on his diocese website that the Vatican said transsexuals “publicly show an attitude contrary to the moral requirement to resolve one’s sexual identity problem according to the truth of one’s sex.
“Therefore it is evident that this person does not possess the requirement of leading a life according to the faith and in the position of godfather and is therefore unable to be admitted to the position of godfather or godmother.”
Gender Recognition
It comes as Tánaiste Joan Burton announced she has signed the Commencement Order for the Gender Recognition Act 2015.
The Act will allow transgender people to be formally recognised in their preferred gender for the first time.
“I am particularly happy that we are in a position to immediately provide this recognition to transgender people regardless of their marital status,” Tánaiste Burton said.
“The Commencement Order which I have signed specifically excludes those elements of the legislation which required that applicants for gender recognition be single. I was able to do so because the President has very recently signed the results of the Marriage Equality Referendum into law.”
From next Tuesday, any transgender person will be in a position to apply for a Gender Recognition Certificate in order to get a new birth certificate that reflects their preferred gender.
There has been a huge outpouring of support for the signing with a host of rights groups, including Amnesty International Ireland, praising the move.
Gender Rec Act "testament to the work of @TENI_Tweets Dr. Foy @flacireland & all who have fought for trans equality" http://t.co/Ujqnz3zLAw
— ICCL (@ICCLtweet) September 4, 2015
Chief Executive of the Transgender Equality Network Ireland (TENI), Broden Giambrone said: "The wait for legal recognition is finally over. The practical and symbolic importance of being recognised in the eyes of the State cannot be underestimated. This is a turning point for trans rights in Ireland and I hope this leads to further positive changes for our community.
"Married trans people will no longer be forced to choose between their families and their right to be legally recognised. This is a great day for families in Ireland."
Ireland's independent rights watchdog, the Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL), also welcomed today's signature.
Executive Director Mark Kelly said: "This legislation puts Ireland in the small vanguard of countries that provide true equality to their transgender citizens and residents."
