Pope Francis: Gender Ideology Is a Danger That Erases Differences

Receiving his guests at the Vatican on the morning of March 1, Francis, who has been suffering minor flu symptoms for several days, wanted to say a few words before asking his colleague, Msgr. Ciampanelli, to read his address: "I still have a cold and I get tired reading for a while," the Pope said.

He stressed the importance of this meeting, "because today the worst danger is gender ideology, which cancels out differences." He added: "I asked for studies to be made on this ugly ideology of our time, which erases differences and makes everything the same; to erase difference is to erase humanity. Man and woman, on the other hand, stand in fruitful 'tension'.”

Before his address was read, the Pope again recommended the book The Lord of the World by Robert Hugh Benson, published in 1907, in which the author warns against the “tendency to erase all differences”--a book already recommended by Francis several times.

The CRAV is an organization led by Cardinal Marc Ouellet, Prefect emeritus of the Dicastery for Bishops. The meeting, spread out over two days, brought together philosophers, theologians, and educators to reflect on Christian anthropology, pluralism, dialogue between cultures, and the future of humanity.

A Reminder of Human Destiny

In his address, the Pope emphasized that ”the life of the human being is vocation.“ He then situated this vocation in relation to God, ”the reality that transcends me,“ and in relation ”to others and to the world.” Man is ”called to embrace a specific and personal mission with joy and responsibility.”

Francis emphasized that the life of each person is never ”incidental” or “merely the fruit of chance.” But “we are part of a plan of love and are invited to come out of ourselves and fulfill it, for ourselves and for others,” he said.

In looking at the reality of the Church, the Pope calls for the development of ”an increasingly effective circularity between the various vocations,” searching for what the laypeople, priests, and consecrated people ”may contribute to generating hope in a world over which heavy experiences of death loom.”

It is good to hear it said that ”the worst danger is gender ideology.” Which could indirectly call into question the Declaration Fiducia supplicans. And note the reminder of our transcendent destiny.

But in addition, the feminization of Vatican services, the promotion of women in the service of worship: altar servers, the functions of lector and acolyte, and perhaps tomorrow ”deaconesses” will only be able to call into question the priestly vocation and the hierarchy of the Church as founded by her Head and Savior, the Christ. One cannot desire a goal without desiring the means.