Dioceses that have their own chapters of Courage to accompany those with same-sex attraction are also "in a good position to help people who have questions regarding their sexual identity as well," the spokesperson said.
Father Philip Bochanski is the executive director of Courage International. He said the organization will continue to discern how best to serve transgendered persons and their families.
"There seem to be some similarities between the experience of confusion regarding one's sexual identity and the experience of same-sex attraction, but there are also many differences," Fr. Bochanski said.
In the meantime, the ministry's outreach for parents, called EnCourage, is already actively engaged with parents and families who have a transgendered loved one, Fr. Bochanski said.
The goal of EnCourage is to help parents and family members of those with same-sex attraction, or transgendered persons, to maintain strong family ties while also holding to their understanding and teaching of the faith.
"Our EnCourage members pursue these goals by striving to grow in their own prayer lives, to learn more about what the Church teaches and how to present it in a loving way, and to find ways to show love and support without either condemning their sons or daughters, nor condoning immoral decisions."
"Like the experience of same-sex attraction, questions regarding sexual identity have a profound impact not just on the individual but on his or her whole family," he said.
"I'm glad that our EnCourage members and their chaplains have the opportunity to share their experience of speaking the truth in love in their own families with other parents and spouses who are striving to understand and support their loved ones who identify as transgender."
Heyer said first and foremost, the Church must gently but firmly challenge people, rather than affirm them in their gender dysphoria.
"If we affirm them in changing genders we're actually being disobedient to Christ, because that's not who they are. He made them man and woman," Heyer said.
He also said that pastors and those in ministry in the Church need to be better informed about the long-term physical and emotional consequences of sex change surgery.
"Because we're not talking about the consequences. We're only talking about them transitioning, which all looks really good for 8-10 years," he said, at which point many people desire to go back to their original gender.
"So if we can get a bigger set of glasses and look long term...then we can look and see the destruction that happens and begin to address the destruction."
Pastors and psychologists, working together
Deacon Dr. Patrick Lappert, a permanent deacon and plastic surgeon, also addressed the clergy and ministry leaders at the recent Courage conference. In his talk, he addressed the medical background of transgender surgeries, as well as the terminology used when discussing the issue.
It's important for those in ministry to be well versed in the issue, both from a catechetical standpoint and from a medical and secular standpoint, Dr. Lappert told CNA.
"One of the dangers in the subject is that ignorance causes people to respond in unhelpful ways - sometimes in anger, sometimes confusion, revulsion, all kinds of emotional things that do not serve anyone, and certainly do not serve the Church," he said.
"Be so fluent in the issue (and the terminology) that nothing surprises you, so that you can serve the person justly with the truth and with love," he advised.
It is also important for priests and Church leaders to have good working relationships with psychologists and psychiatrists who share a Christian anthropological view of the human person, and would not encourage people in their gender dysphoria, Dr. Lappert said.
Dr. Bottaro said he has seen an increase in good working relationships between pastors and psychologists who believe in a true Christian anthropology.
"I think priests are becoming more and more aware of the need for it, the more volatile the situation becomes, the more obvious and pressing the need is for mental health expertise from a Catholic perspective," he said.
He said that he thinks Courage is a good place to start as far as ministry goes, because they have the "experience and expertise to sort of bridge the gap."
"It could become a whole separate ministry, but it's definitely related to what Courage is already doing, so it could become a branch of it, or they could decide that there's many more people suffering from the effect of transgenderism," he said.
But the issue of transgenderism extends beyond just those struggling with gender dysphoria, he added. It's a cultural issue even more so than a psychological one, and it needs to be addressed on the levels of education and improved family life and catechesis just as much as it needs to be addressed on an individual basis.
Throughout the process of discerning and pastoral care for both people with same-sex attraction and with gender dysphoria, the most important thing is to remember the foundation of everyone's identity, Fr. Bochanski added: "That of being created in the image and likeness of God the Father, and of being called to share in God's grace as his sons and daughters."
This article was originally published on CNA Feb. 9, 2017.
Mary Farrow worked as a staff writer for Catholic News Agency until 2020. She has a degree in journalism and English education from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.