London, England, Mar 13, 2018 / 17:09 pm
Criticizing ideological trends regarding gender identity, Cardinal Vincent Nichols of Westminster has said that accepting that one's biological sex is built-in to humanity helps escape destructive individualism through participation in the human family.
"At a time of great confusion about the rules of sexual behavior, about exploitation and abuse in every part of society, some firm points of reference, that are already built into our humanity at its best, are of vital importance," Cardinal Nichols told a February meeting of Catholic head teachers.
"In an age of fluidity, even in gender identity, and at a time when the response to 'difference' is to become closed in a self-selecting world of the like-minded and reject that which is different, such foundations are so important," the cardinal continued. These foundations "affirm that there are 'givens' which come with birth and with solid identities and which project across generations."
"They help up keep hold of the reality that we are not single, self-determining individuals but members of a great family, with all its trials, diversities and struggles, and within that family, not alone, will we find our greatest joy," he said.