VATICAN CITY, Nov 8 (Reuters) - Transsexuals can be godparents at Roman Catholic baptisms, witnesses at religious weddings and receive baptism themselves, the Vatican's doctrinal office said on Wednesday, responding to questions from a bishop.
A person in a same-sex relationship could also be a witness at a Catholic wedding, the office said, citing current Church canonical legislation which contained no prohibition against it.
The Brazilian bishop sought guidance on whether a same-sex couple who had adopted a child or obtained it from a surrogate mother could have that child baptized in a Catholic ceremony.
The response said that for the child of a same-sex couple to be baptized, there had to be "a well-founded hope that it would be educated in the Catholic religion".
There was a similarly nuanced response to a question whether a person in a same-sex relationship could be a godparent at a Church baptism.
Persons:
Bishop Jose Negri, Santo, Argentine Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, Pope Francis, Francis, Philip Pullella, David Gregorio Our
Organizations:
CITY, Argentine, Thomson
Locations:
Santo Amaro, Brazil