The Daily Mail is reporting that Judge Linda Dessau of Australia's Family Court has ruled that a 16 year-old boy may undergo drug treatments that will begin the process of changing him into a woman. The Judge ruled that the boy, who is mildly autistic, has the support of his parents, six specialists and a lawyer, and is mature enough to know what he wants.
Sydney's Daily Telegraph is reporting that the boy, who is identified only as "O", also has the support of his 14 year-old sister whose clothes he has been secretly wearing.
The boy's father had also enjoyed dressing up as a girl but said he "grew out of it." O's parents had hoped the same would happen to their son, but when he was still "revolted" by his male body at the age of 14, they decided to let him undergo a sex change.
Sex change operations continue to be controversial even in the scientific community where studies have shown that those who undergo surgery might be pleased with the outcome, but continue to have the same problems with relationships and their emotions.
In an article he wrote for the National Association of Research and Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH), renowned Catholic psychiatrist, Dr. Richard Fitzgibbons, explains why surgery is not enough to change a person's sex.
"Each cell of a person's body contains chromosomes which identify that individual as either male or female. It is not simply a question of different genitals. Before birth prenatal hormones shape the brains of boys to be different than those of girls. Mutilating surgery and hormone treatments can create the appearance of a male or female body, but it cannot change the underlying reality. It is not possible to change a person's sex."
As far as Catholic teaching in this area, Dr. Fitzgibbons says it is very clear. "In promoting the truth about the human person, the Church is on the side of science when it proclaims that it is not possible to change a person's sex. Therefore, persons who claim to have had their sex changed may not marry or be ordained. A man who is surgically altered to resemble a woman may not marry a man and a woman with a male appearance may not be ordained a priest."
But this has not stopped the trend toward allowing and encouraging even the under-aged from undergoing sex change operations. The same Australian court system that approved the sex change of "O" gave permission six years ago for a 13 year-old girl to undergo treatment to become a man.
© All Rights Reserved, Living His Life Abundantly®/Women of Grace® http://www.womenofgrace.com
Australian Court Allows Minor to Undergo Sex Change
By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist
An Australian judge has ruled that an autistic boy can begin the process of changing into a woman, but must have his sperm frozen in case he should decide to "father" children some time in the future.
The Daily Mail is reporting that Judge Linda Dessau of Australia's Family Court has ruled that a 16 year-old boy may undergo drug treatments that will begin the process of changing him into a woman. The Judge ruled that the boy, who is mildly autistic, has the support of his parents, six specialists and a lawyer, and is mature enough to know what he wants.
Sydney's Daily Telegraph is reporting that the boy, who is identified only as "O", also has the support of his 14 year-old sister whose clothes he has been secretly wearing.
The boy's father had also enjoyed dressing up as a girl but said he "grew out of it." O's parents had hoped the same would happen to their son, but when he was still "revolted" by his male body at the age of 14, they decided to let him undergo a sex change.
Sex change operations continue to be controversial even in the scientific community where studies have shown that those who undergo surgery might be pleased with the outcome, but continue to have the same problems with relationships and their emotions.
In an article he wrote for the National Association of Research and Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH), renowned Catholic psychiatrist, Dr. Richard Fitzgibbons, explains why surgery is not enough to change a person's sex.
"Each cell of a person's body contains chromosomes which identify that individual as either male or female. It is not simply a question of different genitals. Before birth prenatal hormones shape the brains of boys to be different than those of girls. Mutilating surgery and hormone treatments can create the appearance of a male or female body, but it cannot change the underlying reality. It is not possible to change a person's sex."
As far as Catholic teaching in this area, Dr. Fitzgibbons says it is very clear. "In promoting the truth about the human person, the Church is on the side of science when it proclaims that it is not possible to change a person's sex. Therefore, persons who claim to have had their sex changed may not marry or be ordained. A man who is surgically altered to resemble a woman may not marry a man and a woman with a male appearance may not be ordained a priest."
But this has not stopped the trend toward allowing and encouraging even the under-aged from undergoing sex change operations. The same Australian court system that approved the sex change of "O" gave permission six years ago for a 13 year-old girl to undergo treatment to become a man.
© All Rights Reserved, Living His Life Abundantly®/Women of Grace® http://www.womenofgrace.com
The Daily Mail is reporting that Judge Linda Dessau of Australia's Family Court has ruled that a 16 year-old boy may undergo drug treatments that will begin the process of changing him into a woman. The Judge ruled that the boy, who is mildly autistic, has the support of his parents, six specialists and a lawyer, and is mature enough to know what he wants.
Sydney's Daily Telegraph is reporting that the boy, who is identified only as "O", also has the support of his 14 year-old sister whose clothes he has been secretly wearing.
The boy's father had also enjoyed dressing up as a girl but said he "grew out of it." O's parents had hoped the same would happen to their son, but when he was still "revolted" by his male body at the age of 14, they decided to let him undergo a sex change.
Sex change operations continue to be controversial even in the scientific community where studies have shown that those who undergo surgery might be pleased with the outcome, but continue to have the same problems with relationships and their emotions.
In an article he wrote for the National Association of Research and Therapy of Homosexuality (NARTH), renowned Catholic psychiatrist, Dr. Richard Fitzgibbons, explains why surgery is not enough to change a person's sex.
"Each cell of a person's body contains chromosomes which identify that individual as either male or female. It is not simply a question of different genitals. Before birth prenatal hormones shape the brains of boys to be different than those of girls. Mutilating surgery and hormone treatments can create the appearance of a male or female body, but it cannot change the underlying reality. It is not possible to change a person's sex."
As far as Catholic teaching in this area, Dr. Fitzgibbons says it is very clear. "In promoting the truth about the human person, the Church is on the side of science when it proclaims that it is not possible to change a person's sex. Therefore, persons who claim to have had their sex changed may not marry or be ordained. A man who is surgically altered to resemble a woman may not marry a man and a woman with a male appearance may not be ordained a priest."
But this has not stopped the trend toward allowing and encouraging even the under-aged from undergoing sex change operations. The same Australian court system that approved the sex change of "O" gave permission six years ago for a 13 year-old girl to undergo treatment to become a man.
© All Rights Reserved, Living His Life Abundantly®/Women of Grace® http://www.womenofgrace.com
