Catholic hospitals across the United States will no longer provide gender-affirming care after the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops approved a nationwide policy that explicitly prohibits medical interventions used in gender transition. The new guidance updates the Ethical and Religious Directives that govern Catholic health institutions and instructs affiliated hospitals to stop offering treatments such as puberty blockers, hormone therapy, and gender-affirming surgeries. With Catholic systems representing a significant share of community hospitals, the effects of this policy shift will reach millions of patients.
The decision formalizes what had already been standard practice in many Catholic hospitals, but until now there had been variations between dioceses and facilities. The new directives are uniform and leave no room for local interpretation. The bishops state that medical interventions that alter primary or secondary sex characteristics for the purpose of gender transition are not permitted in Catholic settings. In regions where Catholic hospitals are the primary or only providers, this will limit access to gender-affirming care for transgender patients who may have no nearby alternatives.
The policy drew immediate criticism from LGBTQ Catholic advocates. New Ways Ministry, a national group that works to support LGBTQ Catholics, released a statement saying the bishops’ decision fails to recognize the experiences of transgender people who consider transition central to their ability to live safely and authentically. The organization said Catholic moral teaching should support human dignity and expressed concern that the directives will contribute to poorer health outcomes by blocking care that many medical professionals consider essential.
Medical experts note that gender-affirming care is supported by major professional associations, including physicians’ groups, pediatric organizations, and mental health specialists. These experts say that such care is evidence-based and, for many patients, necessary for long-term well-being. Advocates also point out that transgender patients already face substantial barriers to healthcare, and a system-wide ban by one of the nation’s largest hospital networks will deepen those challenges.
The Catholic Health Association issued a separate statement after the vote. It said that Catholic hospitals will continue to treat transgender patients for general medical needs and remain committed to offering care that is respectful and compassionate. Critics say that while this language may assure patients that they will not be turned away, it does not change the fact that gender-affirming care will no longer be available in those facilities even when Catholic hospitals dominate local healthcare markets.
Legal questions are already emerging. Some states have laws that prohibit discrimination based on gender identity in medical settings, and advocates are analyzing whether those protections might conflict with the new directives. Potential lawsuits could focus on whether religiously affiliated hospitals that serve the general public must comply with statewide nondiscrimination standards.
Transgender patients and supporters say the new policy underscores the need for clear access to nonreligious providers and greater transparency in hospital networks. As the directives take effect, many patients may be required to travel farther or change insurance coverage in order to receive gender-affirming care. The long-term impact will depend on how state laws, healthcare systems, and individual hospitals respond to the bishops’ decision.
