Transgender Catholics 91裸聊视频� as well as a priest who welcomes them to his parish 91裸聊视频� expressed disappointment Monday with a rejecting the fundamental concept of changing one91裸聊视频檚 biological sex.

In essence, it was a restatement of longstanding Catholic teaching, but the dismay was heightened because recent moves by Pope Francis had encouraged some trans Catholics to hope the church might become more accepting.

The pope has welcomed a community of transgender women to his weekly general audiences. And last year, the Vatican said it91裸聊视频檚 permissible, under certain circumstances, for and serve as godparents.

91裸聊视频淎 document like this is very hurtful to the larger LGBTQ+ community but especially to the trans community,91裸聊视频� said Maxwell Kuzma, 32, a lifelong Catholic transgender man working as a film editor and writer in rural Ohio.

91裸聊视频淲e have seen the care and love Pope Francis has personally extended to the trans community in his personal interactions, yet this document fails to extend that same respect, love, and support,91裸聊视频� Kuzma said via email.

The new document never uses the word 91裸聊视频渢ransgender,91裸聊视频� which troubled Michael Sennett, a transgender man who is involved with an LGBTQ+ ministry at St. Ignatius of Loyola Church in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts.

91裸聊视频淎voiding the word 91裸聊视频榯ransgender91裸聊视频� speaks to limiting the dignity of transgender people,91裸聊视频� Sennett said via email. 91裸聊视频淚f the church is unable to name us or acknowledge our true selves, they can91裸聊视频檛 possibly engage us pastorally, even if that is the goal.91裸聊视频�

He also was dismayed by the document91裸聊视频檚 admonition that God created man and woman as biologically different, separate beings, and that people must not tinker with that or try to 91裸聊视频渕ake oneself God.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淭ransgender people are beloved, intentional creations of God the same as cisgender men and women are,91裸聊视频� Sennett said. 91裸聊视频淭rans people who take hormones or have surgeries are not playing God; we are respecting and accepting our authentic selves.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淭ime and time again studies have validated the negative impact on trans people, youth and adults, who are denied affirming care,91裸聊视频� Sennet added. 91裸聊视频淭ransitioning is not a medical agenda out to recruit people 91裸聊视频� it is a lifeline.91裸聊视频�

Christine Zuba, a transgender woman from New Jersey, noted with dismay that the Vatican doctrine office91裸聊视频檚 20-page document declared gender-affirming surgery to be a 91裸聊视频済rave violation of human dignity,91裸聊视频� on par with such global ills as war and human trafficking.

91裸聊视频淭ransgender persons are being condemned for who we are, and more importantly we become subject to potential harm,91裸聊视频� Zuba said in an email. 91裸聊视频淚t again (sadly) gives fuel to those who continue to deny our existence.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淲e exist, but we do not. We have dignity, but we do not. I don91裸聊视频檛 even want to think about what the religious and political right will make of this.91裸聊视频�

As for Pope Francis, Zuba praised him as 91裸聊视频渁 good and holy man.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淥ur church however still has a LOT to learn,91裸聊视频� she added. 91裸聊视频淲e are Not an Ideology. Talk to us. Learn.91裸聊视频�

The Catholic Church in the U.S. is . Some dioceses have issued stern guidelines in effect forbidding acknowledgement of gender transitions. But some parishes have welcomed trans people, including the Church of Our Lady of Grace in Hoboken, New Jersey. Its priest, the Rev. Alexander Santora, invited Zuba a few years ago to deliver part of the homily at its annual Pride Mass.

Santora told The Associated Press that he was encouraged by some aspects of the new Vatican document, including its assertion that homosexuality should not be criminalized.

91裸聊视频淚 fear, though, that the tone of this document may bring more harm to trans individuals and fuel the hate that is proliferating in the U.S., with more oppressive laws that will lead to suicides and violence,91裸聊视频� he said via email. 91裸聊视频淚 hope the Vatican convenes some devout trans Catholics from around the world to dissect this document and make it more pastoral.91裸聊视频�

Kuzma, the Ohio-based film editor and writer, said his dismay over the Vatican document was coupled with continued optimism.

91裸聊视频淐urrently we have a spotlight on us, yet we have existed throughout human history and have often been given special roles in cultures that recognized our unique gifts,91裸聊视频� he said.

91裸聊视频淭he Catholic Church moves slowly, but my hope is that one day, the Vatican will truly recognize the beautiful and important gifts transgender people have to share with the church and the world.91裸聊视频�

READ ALSO: