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Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales vs. transgender people

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales (CBCEW) is the permanent assembly of the Catholic bishops serving the dioceses of England and Wales. In keeping with Catholic doctrine, they believe that sex is immutable and do not condone making a gender transition.

CBCEW was listed in Amnesty International UK’s retracted reports on the anti-rights movements in the UK.

Background

Dioceses in England and Wales are led by an Ordinary (a bishop). A diocesan bishop is given the authority by the Pope to exercise pastoral function over the local diocese.

The modern conference emerged following the reforms of the Second Vatican Council (1962–1965), particularly the Council’s decree Christus Dominus, which encouraged bishops within individual countries to establish episcopal conferences. While the bishops of England and Wales had met together informally for many years, the Conference was formally established in 1967 as the national episcopal conference for the two countries.

A significant legal reorganization occurred in 2003. On April 15, 2003, the Catholic Trust for England and Wales (CaTEW) was incorporated as a company limited by guarantee as company number 04734592. On May 12, 2003, it was registered with the Charity Commission as charity number 1097482.

Anti-trans activism

In 2018. at their Spring Plenary, CBCEW released a statement on gender that states in part:

“We are deeply concerned that this ideology of gender is creating confusion. As we continue to reflect on these issues, we hope for a renewed appreciation of the fundamental importance of sexual difference in our culture and the accompaniment of those who experience conflict in their sense of self and God-given identity. We all have a duty to protect the most vulnerable.”

In 2024, CBCEW released a longer pastoral reflection on gender which states that sex is a God-given, immutable aspect of the human person, rejects the claim that gender identity supersedes biological sex. It states in part:

Following the example of Pope Francis in this sensitive area, we too distinguish between pastoral care of the person experiencing these struggles and ‘[trans]gender ideology’.

[…] We are created; we are not the Creator. As such ‘creation is prior to us and must be received as a gift.’10 Within this created order, the human person also has a nature that we must respect and that we cannot manipulate at will.’11

[…] This is why Pope Francis stresses that ‘the acceptance of our body as a gift from God is vital for welcoming and accepting the entire world as a gift from the Father
learning to accept your body, to care for it and to respect its fullest meaning.’27 Since the body shares in the dignity of the image of God and it was created by God, we must not despise bodily life. Rather we are obliged to regard our body as good. 28 We are to honour our body29 resisting medical interventions, intended to “reassign” gender where these destroy the body’s fertility or sexual function.30 Views that promote a misleading view of the human body are deeply concerning as they foster such a limited and flawed view of the human person as to serve the detriment of the good of the individual. Whilst recognising with great love and compassion the difficulties individuals may experience with regards to gender variance, it is clear that all and especially ‘the young need to be helped to accept their own body as it was created.’31

[…] Thus it is that we speak to those adult members in our Catholic communities who have chosen to transition socially and medically: ‘You are still our brothers and sisters. We cannot be indifferent to your struggle and the path you may have chosen. The doors of the Church are open to you, and you should find, from all members of the Church, a welcome that is compassionate, sensitive and respectful.’

[…] With regard to children and young people, across society and within the Church, there are some who experience gender incongruence/dysphoria. From a pastoral perspective, accompaniment must have at its heart an acceptance and celebration of the body as created, respect for parents as primary educators, and should uphold best practice in terms of safeguarding principles. Medical intervention for children should not be supported. It should also be recognised that social ‘transition’ (living in the opposite gender role) can have a formative impact on a child’s development and can set a child on a path towards later medical interventions. Care should be taken to avoid this especially with young children.”

People

Staff

  • Richard Moth, Archbishop of Westminster: President
  • Bernard Longley, Archbishop of Birmingham: Vice-president
  • Christopher Thomas, Diocese of Nottingham: General Secretary

Officers of corporation

  • William Agley
  • Benedict Pius Marilaan Andradi
  • Peter Malcolm Brignall
  • Cathy Corcoran
  • Helen Bernadette Costigane
  • Alison Elizabeth Cowdall
  • John Hugh Davies
  • Henrietta Tamsin Eastwood
  • John William Barratt Gibbs
  • Paul Edris Hewitt
  • Liam Francis Kelly
  • Kees Kempenaar
  • Sarah Margaret Kilmartin
  • Austin Richard Gillow King
  • Carol Lawrence
  • Peter Francis Lomas
  • Bernard Longley
  • Patrick Kieran Lynch
  • Michael McKenna
  • Malcolm Patrick McMahon
  • David Leonard Morgan
  • Charles Philip Richard Moth
  • William Moyes
  • Lyn Murray
  • Edward Nally
  • John Frederick Nelson
  • Nigel Newton
  • Mark Anthony O’Toole
  • Marcus Stock
  • Andrew Liam Summersgill
  • Christopher Paul Thomas
  • Tom Williams
  • Allyn Zulver

Trustees of Charity

  • Peter Brugnall
  • Helen Bernadette Costigane
  • John Hugh Davies
  • Henrietta Tamsin Eastwood
  • Paul Edris Hewitt
  • Liam Francis Kelly
  • Sarah Kilmartin
  • Carol Lawrence
  • Bernard Longley
  • Charles Philip Richard Moth
  • Lyn Murray
  • Mark O’Toole
  • Tom Williams

Selected publications by CBCEW

Staff report (April 3, 2024). Intricately Woven by the Lord: A pastoral reflection on gender by the Catholic Bishops of England and Wales. The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales https://www.cbcew.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/04/REFLECTION-Intricately-Woven-By-The-Lord.pdf

  • Executive Summary. https://www.cbcew.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/04/SUMMARY-Intricately-Woven-By-The-Lord.pdf

Staff report (April 24th, 2024). Bishops issue pastoral reflection on gender. The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales https://www.cbcew.org.uk/bishops-issue-pastoral-reflection-on-gender/

Staff report (April 20, 2018). Statement on Gender from the Catholic Bishops of England and Wales. The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales https://www.cbcew.org.uk/spring-plenary-2018-gender-resolution/

Resources

Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales (cbcew.org.uk)

UK Campanies House (find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk)

UK Register of Charities (register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk)

  • Catholic Trust for England and Wales
  • working name: Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales
  • register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/3999755/

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