{"id":10911,"date":"2015-06-18T10:14:00","date_gmt":"2015-06-18T10:14:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.catholicnewsagency.com\/news\/the-popes-take-on-transgender-issues-accept-the-body-god-gave-you-56797\/"},"modified":"2015-06-18T10:14:00","modified_gmt":"2015-06-18T10:14:00","slug":"the-popes-take-on-transgender-issues-accept-the-body-god-gave-you","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/2015\/06\/the-popes-take-on-transgender-issues-accept-the-body-god-gave-you\/","title":{"rendered":"The Pope’s take on transgender issues? Accept the body God gave you"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

<\/p>\n

Vatican City, Jun 18, 2015 \/ 04:14 am (CNA\/EWTN News<\/a>).- Pope Francis' new encyclical on the environment calls for men and women to acknowledge their bodies as a gift from God which should not be manipulated.<\/p>\n

\t\u201cThe acceptance of our bodies as God's gift is vital for welcoming and accepting the entire world as a gift from the Father and our common home,\u201d the Pope wrote, \u201cwhereas thinking that we enjoy absolute power over our own bodies turns, often subtly, into thinking that we enjoy absolute power over creation.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tThe Pope's encyclical \u201cLaudato Si,\u201d meaning \u201cPraise be to You,\u201d was published Thursday, June 18. Its name is taken from St. Francis of Assisi's medieval Italian prayer \u201cCanticle of the Sun,\u201d which praises God through elements of creation like Brother Sun, Sister Moon, and \u201cour sister Mother Earth.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tIn early 2014, the Vatican announced the Pope's plans to write on the theme of \u201chuman ecology\u201d \u2013 a phrase that was previously used by Pope emeritus Benedict XVI.<\/p>\n

\tWhile the 184-page encyclical wades into controversial topics such as climate change, it also aggressively argues that it is not possible to effectively care for the environment without first working to defend human life and dignity.<\/p>\n

\tThe Pope wrote that human ecology implies the profound reality of \u201cthe relationship between human life and the moral law, which is inscribed in our nature and is necessary for the creation of a more dignified environment.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tPope Francis quoted from his predecessor, Benedict XVI, saying that there is an \u201cecology of man\u201d because \u201cman too has a nature that he must respect and that he cannot manipulate at will.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tBenedict's words came from his Sept. 22, 2011 address<\/a> to the German parliament on the foundations of law. He had discussed the importance of the ecological movement for its realization that \u201cthe earth has a dignity of its own and that we must follow its directives.\u201d Man, he added, \u201cdoes not create himself. He is intellect and will, but he is also nature, and his will is rightly ordered if he respects his nature, listens to it and accepts himself for who he is, as one who did not create himself.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tAfter quoting Benedict, Pope Francis said that \u201cour body itself establishes us in a direct relationship with the environment and with other living beings,\u201d and that the acceptance of one's body helps one to accept and honor the entire world as a gift.<\/p>\n

\t\u201cLearning to accept our body, to care for it and to respect its fullest meaning, is an essential element of any genuine human ecology.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tHe then turned to the importance of sexual complementarity, adding that \u201cvaluing one\u2019s own body in its femininity or masculinity is necessary if I am going to be able to recognize myself in an encounter with someone who is different. In this way we can joyfully accept the specific gifts of another man or woman, the work of God the Creator, and find mutual enrichment.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tPope Francis referred to his own General Audience address of April 15<\/a>, saying that \u201cIt is not a healthy attitude which would seek 'to cancel out sexual difference because it no longer knows how to confront it.'\u201d<\/p>\n

\tIn that address, on the complementarity of man and woman, he had touched on the importance of the two sexes and their reciprocal needs.<\/p>\n

\tHe lamented that contemporary culture has introduced doubt and skepticism over sexual complementarity: \u201cFor example, I ask myself, if the so-called gender theory is not, at the same time, an expression of frustration and resignation, which seeks to cancel out sexual difference because it no longer knows how to confront it \u2026 the removal of difference in fact creates a problem, not a solution.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tPope Francis' jab at gender theory \u2013 which gives a basis for transgender identification \u2013 in his encyclical came in the context of a discussion on the \u201cecology of daily life,\u201d during which he also discussed integral improvement in the quality of human life; creativity in responding to one's environment; the brutality arising from poverty; urban planning; lack of housing; public transportation; and rural life.<\/p>\n

\tThe larger context of the Pope's words on the ecology of daily life came in his chapter on integral ecology, during which he also mentioned environmental, economic, and social ecology; cultural ecology; the common good; and inter-generational justice.
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<\/p>\n

Vatican City, Jun 18, 2015 \/ 04:14 am (CNA\/EWTN News<\/a>).- Pope Francis’ new encyclical on the environment calls for men and women to acknowledge their bodies as a gift from God which should not be manipulated.<\/p>\n

\t“The acceptance of our bodies as God’s gift is vital for welcoming and accepting the entire world as a gift from the Father and our common home,” the Pope wrote, “whereas thinking that we enjoy absolute power over our own bodies turns, often subtly, into thinking that we enjoy absolute power over creation.”<\/p>\n

\tThe Pope’s encyclical “Laudato Si,” meaning “Praise be to You,” was published Thursday, June 18. Its name is taken from St. Francis of Assisi’s medieval Italian prayer “Canticle of the Sun,” which praises God through elements of creation like Brother Sun, Sister Moon, and “our sister Mother Earth.”<\/p>\n

\tIn early 2014, the Vatican announced the Pope’s plans to write on the theme of “human ecology” – a phrase that was previously used by Pope emeritus Benedict XVI.<\/p>\n

\tWhile the 184-page encyclical wades into controversial topics such as climate change, it also aggressively argues that it is not possible to effectively care for the environment without first working to defend human life and dignity.<\/p>\n

\tThe Pope wrote that human ecology implies the profound reality of “the relationship between human life and the moral law, which is inscribed in our nature and is necessary for the creation of a more dignified environment.”<\/p>\n

\tPope Francis quoted from his predecessor, Benedict XVI, saying that there is an “ecology of man” because “man too has a nature that he must respect and that he cannot manipulate at will.”<\/p>\n

\tBenedict’s words came from his Sept. 22, 2011 address<\/a> to the German parliament on the foundations of law. He had discussed the importance of the ecological movement for its realization that “the earth has a dignity of its own and that we must follow its directives.” Man, he added, “does not create himself. He is intellect and will, but he is also nature, and his will is rightly ordered if he respects his nature, listens to it and accepts himself for who he is, as one who did not create himself.”<\/p>\n

\tAfter quoting Benedict, Pope Francis said that “our body itself establishes us in a direct relationship with the environment and with other living beings,” and that the acceptance of one’s body helps one to accept and honor the entire world as a gift.<\/p>\n

\t“Learning to accept our body, to care for it and to respect its fullest meaning, is an essential element of any genuine human ecology.”<\/p>\n

\tHe then turned to the importance of sexual complementarity, adding that “valuing one’s own body in its femininity or masculinity is necessary if I am going to be able to recognize myself in an encounter with someone who is different. In this way we can joyfully accept the specific gifts of another man or woman, the work of God the Creator, and find mutual enrichment.”<\/p>\n

\tPope Francis referred to his own General Audience address of April 15<\/a>, saying that “It is not a healthy attitude which would seek ‘to cancel out sexual difference because it no longer knows how to confront it.’”<\/p>\n

\tIn that address, on the complementarity of man and woman, he had touched on the importance of the two sexes and their reciprocal needs.<\/p>\n

\tHe lamented that contemporary culture has introduced doubt and skepticism over sexual complementarity: “For example, I ask myself, if the so-called gender theory is not, at the same time, an expression of frustration and resignation, which seeks to cancel out sexual difference because it no longer knows how to confront it … the removal of difference in fact creates a problem, not a solution.”<\/p>\n

\tPope Francis’ jab at gender theory – which gives a basis for transgender identification – in his encyclical came in the context of a discussion on the “ecology of daily life,” during which he also discussed integral improvement in the quality of human life; creativity in responding to one’s environment; the brutality arising from poverty; urban planning; lack of housing; public transportation; and rural life.<\/p>\n

\tThe larger context of the Pope’s words on the ecology of daily life came in his chapter on integral ecology, during which he also mentioned environmental, economic, and social ecology; cultural ecology; the common good; and inter-generational justice.
\n\t <\/p>\n

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Accept the body God gave you<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Vatican City, Jun 18, 2015 \/ 04:14 am (CNA\/EWTN News).- Pope Francis' new encyclical on the environment calls for men and women to acknowledge their bodies as a gift from God which should not be manipulated. “The acceptance of our bodies as God's gift is vital for welcoming and accepting the entire world as a gift from the Father and our common home,” the Pope wrote, “whereas thinking that we enjoy absolute power over our own bodies turns, often subtly, into thinking that we enjoy absolute power over creation.” The Pope's encyclical “Laudato Si,” meaning “Praise be to You,” was published Thursday, June 18. Its name is taken from St. Francis of Assisi's medieval Italian prayer “Canticle of the Sun,” which praises God through elements of creation like Brother Sun, Sister Moon, and “our sister Mother Earth.” In early 2014, the Vatican announced the Pope's plans to write on the theme of “human ecology” – a phrase that was previously used by Pope emeritus Benedict XVI. While the 184-page encyclical wades into controversial topics such as climate change, it also aggressively argues that it is not possible to effectively care for the environment without first working to defend human life and dignity. The Pope wrote that human ecology implies the profound reality of “the relationship between human life and the moral law, which is inscribed in our nature and is necessary for the creation of a more dignified environment.” Pope Francis quoted from his predecessor, Benedict XVI, saying that there is an “ecology of man” because “man too has a nature that he must respect and that he cannot manipulate at will.” Benedict's words came from his Sept. 22, 2011 address to the German parliament on the foundations of law. He had discussed the importance of the ecological movement for its realization that “the earth has a dignity of its own and that we must follow its directives.” Man, he added, “does not create himself. He is intellect and will, but he is also nature, and his will is rightly ordered if he respects his nature, listens to it and accepts himself for who he is, as one who did not create himself.” After quoting Benedict, Pope Francis said that “our body itself establishes us in a direct relationship with the environment and with other living beings,” and that the acceptance of one's body helps one to accept and honor the entire world as a gift. “Learning to accept our body, to care for it and to respect its fullest meaning, is an essential element of any genuine human ecology.” He then turned to the importance of sexual complementarity, adding that “valuing one’s own body in its femininity or masculinity is necessary if I am going to be able to recognize myself in an encounter with someone who is different. In this way we can joyfully accept the specific gifts of another man or woman, the work of God the Creator, and find mutual enrichment.” Pope Francis referred to his own General Audience address of April 15, saying that “It is not a healthy attitude which would seek 'to cancel out sexual difference because it no longer knows how to confront it.'” In that address, on the complementarity of man and woman, he had touched on the importance of the two sexes and their reciprocal needs. He lamented that contemporary culture has introduced doubt and skepticism over sexual complementarity: “For example, I ask myself, if the so-called gender theory is not, at the same time, an expression of frustration and resignation, which seeks to cancel out sexual difference because it no longer knows how to confront it … the removal of difference in fact creates a problem, not a solution.” Pope Francis' jab at gender theory – which gives a basis for transgender identification – in his encyclical came in the context of a discussion on the “ecology of daily life,” during which he also discussed integral improvement in the quality of human life; creativity in responding to one's environment; the brutality arising from poverty; urban planning; lack of housing; public transportation; and rural life. 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Accept the body God gave you\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Vatican City, Jun 18, 2015 \/ 04:14 am (CNA\/EWTN News).- Pope Francis' new encyclical on the environment calls for men and women to acknowledge their bodies as a gift from God which should not be manipulated. “The acceptance of our bodies as God's gift is vital for welcoming and accepting the entire world as a gift from the Father and our common home,” the Pope wrote, “whereas thinking that we enjoy absolute power over our own bodies turns, often subtly, into thinking that we enjoy absolute power over creation.” The Pope's encyclical “Laudato Si,” meaning “Praise be to You,” was published Thursday, June 18. Its name is taken from St. Francis of Assisi's medieval Italian prayer “Canticle of the Sun,” which praises God through elements of creation like Brother Sun, Sister Moon, and “our sister Mother Earth.” In early 2014, the Vatican announced the Pope's plans to write on the theme of “human ecology” – a phrase that was previously used by Pope emeritus Benedict XVI. While the 184-page encyclical wades into controversial topics such as climate change, it also aggressively argues that it is not possible to effectively care for the environment without first working to defend human life and dignity. The Pope wrote that human ecology implies the profound reality of “the relationship between human life and the moral law, which is inscribed in our nature and is necessary for the creation of a more dignified environment.” Pope Francis quoted from his predecessor, Benedict XVI, saying that there is an “ecology of man” because “man too has a nature that he must respect and that he cannot manipulate at will.” Benedict's words came from his Sept. 22, 2011 address to the German parliament on the foundations of law. He had discussed the importance of the ecological movement for its realization that “the earth has a dignity of its own and that we must follow its directives.” Man, he added, “does not create himself. He is intellect and will, but he is also nature, and his will is rightly ordered if he respects his nature, listens to it and accepts himself for who he is, as one who did not create himself.” After quoting Benedict, Pope Francis said that “our body itself establishes us in a direct relationship with the environment and with other living beings,” and that the acceptance of one's body helps one to accept and honor the entire world as a gift. “Learning to accept our body, to care for it and to respect its fullest meaning, is an essential element of any genuine human ecology.” He then turned to the importance of sexual complementarity, adding that “valuing one’s own body in its femininity or masculinity is necessary if I am going to be able to recognize myself in an encounter with someone who is different. In this way we can joyfully accept the specific gifts of another man or woman, the work of God the Creator, and find mutual enrichment.” Pope Francis referred to his own General Audience address of April 15, saying that “It is not a healthy attitude which would seek 'to cancel out sexual difference because it no longer knows how to confront it.'” In that address, on the complementarity of man and woman, he had touched on the importance of the two sexes and their reciprocal needs. He lamented that contemporary culture has introduced doubt and skepticism over sexual complementarity: “For example, I ask myself, if the so-called gender theory is not, at the same time, an expression of frustration and resignation, which seeks to cancel out sexual difference because it no longer knows how to confront it … the removal of difference in fact creates a problem, not a solution.” Pope Francis' jab at gender theory – which gives a basis for transgender identification – in his encyclical came in the context of a discussion on the “ecology of daily life,” during which he also discussed integral improvement in the quality of human life; creativity in responding to one's environment; the brutality arising from poverty; urban planning; lack of housing; public transportation; and rural life. 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Its name is taken from St. Francis of Assisi's medieval Italian prayer “Canticle of the Sun,” which praises God through elements of creation like Brother Sun, Sister Moon, and “our sister Mother Earth.” In early 2014, the Vatican announced the Pope's plans to write on the theme of “human ecology” – a phrase that was previously used by Pope emeritus Benedict XVI. While the 184-page encyclical wades into controversial topics such as climate change, it also aggressively argues that it is not possible to effectively care for the environment without first working to defend human life and dignity. The Pope wrote that human ecology implies the profound reality of “the relationship between human life and the moral law, which is inscribed in our nature and is necessary for the creation of a more dignified environment.” Pope Francis quoted from his predecessor, Benedict XVI, saying that there is an “ecology of man” because “man too has a nature that he must respect and that he cannot manipulate at will.” Benedict's words came from his Sept. 22, 2011 address to the German parliament on the foundations of law. He had discussed the importance of the ecological movement for its realization that “the earth has a dignity of its own and that we must follow its directives.” Man, he added, “does not create himself. 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In this way we can joyfully accept the specific gifts of another man or woman, the work of God the Creator, and find mutual enrichment.” Pope Francis referred to his own General Audience address of April 15, saying that “It is not a healthy attitude which would seek 'to cancel out sexual difference because it no longer knows how to confront it.'” In that address, on the complementarity of man and woman, he had touched on the importance of the two sexes and their reciprocal needs. 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Its name is taken from St. Francis of Assisi's medieval Italian prayer “Canticle of the Sun,” which praises God through elements of creation like Brother Sun, Sister Moon, and “our sister Mother Earth.” In early 2014, the Vatican announced the Pope's plans to write on the theme of “human ecology” – a phrase that was previously used by Pope emeritus Benedict XVI. While the 184-page encyclical wades into controversial topics such as climate change, it also aggressively argues that it is not possible to effectively care for the environment without first working to defend human life and dignity. The Pope wrote that human ecology implies the profound reality of “the relationship between human life and the moral law, which is inscribed in our nature and is necessary for the creation of a more dignified environment.” Pope Francis quoted from his predecessor, Benedict XVI, saying that there is an “ecology of man” because “man too has a nature that he must respect and that he cannot manipulate at will.” Benedict's words came from his Sept. 22, 2011 address to the German parliament on the foundations of law. He had discussed the importance of the ecological movement for its realization that “the earth has a dignity of its own and that we must follow its directives.” Man, he added, “does not create himself. He is intellect and will, but he is also nature, and his will is rightly ordered if he respects his nature, listens to it and accepts himself for who he is, as one who did not create himself.” After quoting Benedict, Pope Francis said that “our body itself establishes us in a direct relationship with the environment and with other living beings,” and that the acceptance of one's body helps one to accept and honor the entire world as a gift. “Learning to accept our body, to care for it and to respect its fullest meaning, is an essential element of any genuine human ecology.” He then turned to the importance of sexual complementarity, adding that “valuing one’s own body in its femininity or masculinity is necessary if I am going to be able to recognize myself in an encounter with someone who is different. In this way we can joyfully accept the specific gifts of another man or woman, the work of God the Creator, and find mutual enrichment.” Pope Francis referred to his own General Audience address of April 15, saying that “It is not a healthy attitude which would seek 'to cancel out sexual difference because it no longer knows how to confront it.'” In that address, on the complementarity of man and woman, he had touched on the importance of the two sexes and their reciprocal needs. He lamented that contemporary culture has introduced doubt and skepticism over sexual complementarity: “For example, I ask myself, if the so-called gender theory is not, at the same time, an expression of frustration and resignation, which seeks to cancel out sexual difference because it no longer knows how to confront it … the removal of difference in fact creates a problem, not a solution.” Pope Francis' jab at gender theory – which gives a basis for transgender identification – in his encyclical came in the context of a discussion on the “ecology of daily life,” during which he also discussed integral improvement in the quality of human life; creativity in responding to one's environment; the brutality arising from poverty; urban planning; lack of housing; public transportation; and rural life. 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Accept the body God gave you","og_description":"Vatican City, Jun 18, 2015 \/ 04:14 am (CNA\/EWTN News).- Pope Francis' new encyclical on the environment calls for men and women to acknowledge their bodies as a gift from God which should not be manipulated. “The acceptance of our bodies as God's gift is vital for welcoming and accepting the entire world as a gift from the Father and our common home,” the Pope wrote, “whereas thinking that we enjoy absolute power over our own bodies turns, often subtly, into thinking that we enjoy absolute power over creation.” The Pope's encyclical “Laudato Si,” meaning “Praise be to You,” was published Thursday, June 18. Its name is taken from St. Francis of Assisi's medieval Italian prayer “Canticle of the Sun,” which praises God through elements of creation like Brother Sun, Sister Moon, and “our sister Mother Earth.” In early 2014, the Vatican announced the Pope's plans to write on the theme of “human ecology” – a phrase that was previously used by Pope emeritus Benedict XVI. While the 184-page encyclical wades into controversial topics such as climate change, it also aggressively argues that it is not possible to effectively care for the environment without first working to defend human life and dignity. The Pope wrote that human ecology implies the profound reality of “the relationship between human life and the moral law, which is inscribed in our nature and is necessary for the creation of a more dignified environment.” Pope Francis quoted from his predecessor, Benedict XVI, saying that there is an “ecology of man” because “man too has a nature that he must respect and that he cannot manipulate at will.” Benedict's words came from his Sept. 22, 2011 address to the German parliament on the foundations of law. He had discussed the importance of the ecological movement for its realization that “the earth has a dignity of its own and that we must follow its directives.” Man, he added, “does not create himself. He is intellect and will, but he is also nature, and his will is rightly ordered if he respects his nature, listens to it and accepts himself for who he is, as one who did not create himself.” After quoting Benedict, Pope Francis said that “our body itself establishes us in a direct relationship with the environment and with other living beings,” and that the acceptance of one's body helps one to accept and honor the entire world as a gift. “Learning to accept our body, to care for it and to respect its fullest meaning, is an essential element of any genuine human ecology.” He then turned to the importance of sexual complementarity, adding that “valuing one’s own body in its femininity or masculinity is necessary if I am going to be able to recognize myself in an encounter with someone who is different. In this way we can joyfully accept the specific gifts of another man or woman, the work of God the Creator, and find mutual enrichment.” Pope Francis referred to his own General Audience address of April 15, saying that “It is not a healthy attitude which would seek 'to cancel out sexual difference because it no longer knows how to confront it.'” In that address, on the complementarity of man and woman, he had touched on the importance of the two sexes and their reciprocal needs. He lamented that contemporary culture has introduced doubt and skepticism over sexual complementarity: “For example, I ask myself, if the so-called gender theory is not, at the same time, an expression of frustration and resignation, which seeks to cancel out sexual difference because it no longer knows how to confront it … the removal of difference in fact creates a problem, not a solution.” Pope Francis' jab at gender theory – which gives a basis for transgender identification – in his encyclical came in the context of a discussion on the “ecology of daily life,” during which he also discussed integral improvement in the quality of human life; creativity in responding to one's environment; the brutality arising from poverty; urban planning; lack of housing; public transportation; and rural life. The larger context of the Pope's words on the ecology of daily life came in his chapter on integral ecology, during which he also mentioned environmental, economic, and social ecology; cultural ecology; the common good; and inter-generational justice.  ","og_url":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/2015\/06\/the-popes-take-on-transgender-issues-accept-the-body-god-gave-you\/","og_site_name":"Catholic News","article_published_time":"2015-06-18T10:14:00+00:00","og_image":[{"url":"http:\/\/www.catholicnewsagency.com\/images\/size340\/Pope_Francis_4_at_the_Wednesday_General_Audience_in_St_Peters_Square_on_May_20_2015_Credit_Daniel_Iba_n_ez_CNA_5_20_15.jpg"}],"author":"CNA Daily News","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"CNA Daily News","Est. reading time":"4 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/2015\/06\/the-popes-take-on-transgender-issues-accept-the-body-god-gave-you\/","url":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/2015\/06\/the-popes-take-on-transgender-issues-accept-the-body-god-gave-you\/","name":"The Pope's take on transgender issues? 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Its name is taken from St. Francis of Assisi's medieval Italian prayer “Canticle of the Sun,” which praises God through elements of creation like Brother Sun, Sister Moon, and “our sister Mother Earth.” In early 2014, the Vatican announced the Pope's plans to write on the theme of “human ecology” – a phrase that was previously used by Pope emeritus Benedict XVI. While the 184-page encyclical wades into controversial topics such as climate change, it also aggressively argues that it is not possible to effectively care for the environment without first working to defend human life and dignity. The Pope wrote that human ecology implies the profound reality of “the relationship between human life and the moral law, which is inscribed in our nature and is necessary for the creation of a more dignified environment.” Pope Francis quoted from his predecessor, Benedict XVI, saying that there is an “ecology of man” because “man too has a nature that he must respect and that he cannot manipulate at will.” Benedict's words came from his Sept. 22, 2011 address to the German parliament on the foundations of law. He had discussed the importance of the ecological movement for its realization that “the earth has a dignity of its own and that we must follow its directives.” Man, he added, “does not create himself. He is intellect and will, but he is also nature, and his will is rightly ordered if he respects his nature, listens to it and accepts himself for who he is, as one who did not create himself.” After quoting Benedict, Pope Francis said that “our body itself establishes us in a direct relationship with the environment and with other living beings,” and that the acceptance of one's body helps one to accept and honor the entire world as a gift. “Learning to accept our body, to care for it and to respect its fullest meaning, is an essential element of any genuine human ecology.” He then turned to the importance of sexual complementarity, adding that “valuing one’s own body in its femininity or masculinity is necessary if I am going to be able to recognize myself in an encounter with someone who is different. In this way we can joyfully accept the specific gifts of another man or woman, the work of God the Creator, and find mutual enrichment.” Pope Francis referred to his own General Audience address of April 15, saying that “It is not a healthy attitude which would seek 'to cancel out sexual difference because it no longer knows how to confront it.'” In that address, on the complementarity of man and woman, he had touched on the importance of the two sexes and their reciprocal needs. He lamented that contemporary culture has introduced doubt and skepticism over sexual complementarity: “For example, I ask myself, if the so-called gender theory is not, at the same time, an expression of frustration and resignation, which seeks to cancel out sexual difference because it no longer knows how to confront it … the removal of difference in fact creates a problem, not a solution.” Pope Francis' jab at gender theory – which gives a basis for transgender identification – in his encyclical came in the context of a discussion on the “ecology of daily life,” during which he also discussed integral improvement in the quality of human life; creativity in responding to one's environment; the brutality arising from poverty; urban planning; lack of housing; public transportation; and rural life. The larger context of the Pope's words on the ecology of daily life came in his chapter on integral ecology, during which he also mentioned environmental, economic, and social ecology; cultural ecology; the common good; and inter-generational justice.  ","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/2015\/06\/the-popes-take-on-transgender-issues-accept-the-body-god-gave-you\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/2015\/06\/the-popes-take-on-transgender-issues-accept-the-body-god-gave-you\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/2015\/06\/the-popes-take-on-transgender-issues-accept-the-body-god-gave-you\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"The Pope’s take on transgender issues? 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