Theologian calls on the Church to be more tolerant of intersex issues

Mairinger-Immisch in an interview with the "Tiroler Sonntag": "Ambiguous bodies" in religions "demonized" - Church should create a "welcoming culture"

According to estimates, one in every 100 people in Austria has an "ambiguous body" whose sexual characteristics cannot be clearly assigned to male or female. Despite this common occurrence, the topic is taboo in church and society, explained theologian Katharina Mairinger-Immisch in an interview with the "Tiroler Sonntag" (current issue/No. 27). In the Christian world and in other religious traditions, a negative attitude toward intersex people dominates. Except in the Hindu tradition, "where hybrids are worshipped as divine beings," they are often "demonized" in religions, according to the theologian, who calls for more openness and a willingness to engage in dialogue regarding intersex issues in the church and society.

"For example, it was assumed that the parents' guilt was somehow passed on to the unborn child, resulting in intersex," Mairinger-Immisch said, citing one interpretation of religions. Ambiguity in gender assignment is socially unsettling – which is why people don't like to talk about the topic. Medical practice has also contributed to making intersex a taboo. Starting in the 1960s, attempts were made to surgically "correct" ambiguous genitalia – often without the parents' knowledge. "This led to psychological distress and even suicide for many affected individuals," said the currently on leave member of staff at the Department of Theological Ethics at Ruhr University Bochum.

Church should create a "Welcoming Culture"

The topic of intersex is also "significantly under-represented" in theology. "Theological statements have only recently emerged, for example in a 2019 document from the Vatican Congregation for Education," explained Mairinger-Immisch. Paradoxically, surgical intervention is recommended for intersex people, but strictly rejected for transsexuals. "This demonstrates double standards that must be reconsidered theologically," she criticized.

The Church should develop a "welcoming culture" and "actively engage with intersex people and their realities," the theologian demanded. Only in this way can trust grow. "In the face of social norms and ideals of beauty, it can be helpful to know that deviations are not defects, but part of natural diversity," Mairinger-Immisch added.

Source

Her doctorate is entitled, "Ambiguous bodies. On the recognition of intersex people in theology and the Church"

Award Mairinger-immisch

For her dissertation "Ambiguous bodies. On the recognition of intersex people in theology and the church", Dr Katharina Mairinger-Immisch (Chair of Theological Ethics) received two dissertation prizes from the University of Vienna. Firstly, the work was recognised by the Faculty of Catholic Theology at the University of Vienna as one of the three best dissertations of 2023, and secondly, her work was awarded the GAIN Gender & Agency prize for the best dissertation at the "GAIN - Gender: Ambivalent In_Visibilities" research platform awards ceremony. Since November 2023, the dissertation has been available from transcript-Verlag under the title "Mehrdeutige Körper".