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BISHOP FEUDJIO: PASTORAL NOTE ON HUMAN IDENTITY AND DIGNITY
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October 17, 2025A Pastoral Note to the People of God in the Diocese of St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands on Human Identity and Dignity
In recent days, our community has witnessed developments that touch upon the profound questions of human identity and dignity. As the Church continues her mission of proclaiming the Gospel in every age and circumstance, we are reminded of the timeless truth that each person is created in the image and likeness of God, “male and female He created them” (Gen 1:27).
These are times when we must remind ourselves that the Catholic Church affirms the dignity of every human being, including those who experience deep struggles related to identity. We hold and teach that the human person is a unity of body and soul and that biological sex is not arbitrary but a gift from God, integral to our identity as persons and our vocation as Christians (Cfr. Dignitatis Infinita, 11; Catechism of the Catholic Church, 362–368).
The Catechism of the Catholic Church further teaches: “Homosexual acts are intrinsically disordered. They are contrary to the natural law… Under no circumstances can they be approved. The number of men and women who have deep-seated homosexual tendencies is not negligible. This inclination… constitutes for most of them a trial. They must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity.” (CCC 2357–2358)
This principle of respect and compassion extends to all who experience gender incongruence. Authentic pastoral care must always be grounded in this dignity, guiding each person toward the fullness of truth and love found in Jesus Christ. While we, Catholic faithful, are to respond with charity, it must also be with clarity, avoiding both harsh judgment and moral confusion. Let Pastors and other pastoral agents follow the guidelines from the Vatican, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (Doctrinal Note on the Moral Limits to Technological Manipulation of the Human Body, 2023), and our office.
We are all invited to reaffirm and teach that by the dignity we have as human beings, created in God’s image, our sexuality is not something we create or redefine, but a gift we receive and live out in fidelity to God’s design. We must continue to pray for all those who face trials with their identity or sexuality, that they may heal, receive the assistance they need, and fulfill God’s purpose for them on earth.
Given in St Thomas on Friday, October 17, 2025.
Most Reverend Jerome Feudjio,
Bishop of the Diocese of St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands