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Poland's Catholic bishops have stressed the duty to respect homosexuals, bisexuals and transsexuals. Nevertheless, they oppose giving young people over the age of 16 the right to determine their own gender.
"Any act of physical or verbal violence, hooligan-like behavior and aggression against LGBT+ people is unacceptable," they wrote in their "Position of the Polish Bishops' Conference on the LGBT+ Question," adopted Friday at the plenary assembly in Czestochowa.
At the same time, however, the bishops reaffirmed their rejection of "gender ideology" and the introduction of a "third gender" in the 27-page document.
Church against equalization of privileges of heterosexual and homosexual couples
"The duty of respect for persons associated with the LGBT+ movement does not mean accepting their views uncritically," they stated. Other parts of society should also be respected, especially their religious feelings.
The Church opposes, for example, the equalization of rights and privileges of heterosexual and homosexual couples and the right of young people over 16 to determine their own sex
Open to dialogue
According to the bishops' conference, work on the document took just under a year. It consists of the four chapters: Male and female sexuality from a Christian perspective, the LGBT+ movements in a democratic society, LGBT+ in the Catholic Church, and sexual education of children and young people.
In their paper, the bishops invoke Pope Francis and canon law. They state the Church is open to dialogue with any "person of good will" who seeks the truth. In addition, they make the case for counseling centers, for example, under church sponsorship, which would offer help to people "who want to regain their sexual health and natural sexual orientation.