BALTIMORE — During their annual fall meeting on Wednesday, several U.S. Catholic bishops urged the Church leadership to candidly communicate Vatican positions on contentious issues such as abortion, euthanasia, surrogacy, and gender-affirming surgeries.
The bishops recognized that their stance often goes against prevailing cultural norms.
“We have been excessively apologetic for far too long,” remarked Bishop Robert Barron, who oversees the Winona-Rochester diocese in Minnesota and is known for his media presence.
He emphasized that the Church should not be intimidated by influential personalities in society who promote ideologies that the Church finds problematic.
These statements were made during a presentation regarding the Vatican document released in April entitled “Dignitas Infinita,” or “Infinite Dignity.” This document aims to elucidate the Church’s teachings that advocate respect for human dignity and the sanctity of life from conception through death.
“The objective is to integrate the teachings of ‘Dignitas Infinita’ into our American culture,” declared Barron, who commended the declaration for embodying a unique Catholic perspective—one that transcends political affiliations like Democratic or Republican, and the liberal-conservative divide.
The 20-page document took five years to develop and addresses multiple issues, including forced migration and sexual abuse. It categorizes gender-affirming surgeries and surrogacy as infringements upon human dignity, placing them alongside abortion and euthanasia.
Pope Francis has made efforts to connect with LGBTQ+ communities throughout his papacy, and the recent document is likely to be viewed as a disappointing development for supporters of transgender rights, particularly as the nation heads into an election year marked by conservative opposition to these rights.
Bishop Thomas Daly from Spokane, Washington, discussed the role of Catholic schools in teaching young people about Catholic perspectives on sexuality.
“We aspire for our students to understand the Church’s teachings on sexuality as reflections of a profound comprehension of humanity, rather than a mere collection of rules that conflict with popular opinion,” Daly explained.
Bishop Michael Burbidge of Arlington, Virginia, who is completing his term as chair of the USCCB pro-life activities committee, expressed appreciation for the Vatican’s guidance and deemed the declaration “incredibly timely.”
“Sadly, numerous states continue to embed abortion rights in their state constitutions,” he noted, referencing recent ballot results. “There’s still much work ahead of us.”
Burbidge added, “Our mission extends beyond legislative changes; it is also about transforming hearts and reshaping minds.”
Throughout their meeting, the U.S. bishops reaffirmed their commitment to opposing abortion, despite setbacks at the polls.
Seventy percent of state-level ballot measures advocating for abortion rights were approved by voters in recent elections. Even in Florida, where an abortion rights amendment was unsuccessful, 57% of voters supported it, narrowly missing the needed 60% for passage.
Archbishop Joseph Naumann of Kansas City previously commented that the success of abortion rights initiatives should serve as a “wake-up call.” He indicated that clearer, more direct language is essential for engaging people with the Church’s teachings on life.
In his opening remarks, Archbishop Timothy Broglio, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, articulated a vision for promoting Church teachings, no matter how unpopular.
“We will not retreat or dismiss the explicit teachings of the Gospel; we will proclaim them consistently,” Broglio stated. “We must steadfastly uphold the dignity of every human being from conception to natural death.”