A Catholic monk has revealed that he is transgender, emphasizing that the church must accept transgender people who refuse to compromise their identity for their faith.
Brother Christian Matson, a diocesan hermit in Kentucky, publicly came out with the support of his bishop, John Stowe of the Diocese of Lexington, according to the Religious News Service.
In an interview, Matson warned the Catholic Church, “It’s not your church to kick us out of — this is God’s church, and God has called us and engrafted us into it.” He suggested he may be the first openly transgender person in his role within the Catholic Church, though this claim could not be verified.
Matson, 39, transitioned during college and converted to Catholicism four years later. He hopes his coming out will spark a constructive dialogue on transgender Catholics within the community.
“You’ve got to deal with us, because God has called us into this church,” Matson, who holds a doctorate in religious studies, said regarding transgender Catholics.
Matson’s announcement comes shortly after the Vatican issued “Infinite Dignity,” a document that criticized gender theory, abortion, and surrogacy.
“Vatican-level documents that have come out on the subject have not engaged with the science at all,” Matson lamented, regarding the church’s official stance on transgender issues.
He has written multiple letters to the Vatican, urging leaders to engage more with transgender individuals.
Matson consulted a canon lawyer when he felt called to serve in the church, and was advised that becoming a diocesan hermit would be his best option, as the role does not make distinctions based on sex or gender. However, he faced rejection from several communities before finding acceptance in Kentucky.
Stowe, a prominent advocate for LGBTQ+ people in the Catholic Church, oversaw Matson’s vows in 2022 and spoke positively about his decision. “My willingness to be open to him is because it’s a sincere person seeking a way to serve the church,” Stowe said.
After spending an initial year primarily in prayer or working at a local theater, Matson renewed his vows in 2023.
He emphasized, “I don’t have a hidden agenda, I just want to serve the church.”
