Recently the word “transgender” has become increasingly common in American parlance, despite many people being unfamiliar with it not that long ago. This has happened largely thanks to highly publicized cases, like that of Bruce Jenner, the former Olympic athlete and TV personality, who, though male, now claims to actually be female.

This term has slowly been appearing for some time, but seems to be showing up with ever greater frequency. Another example being the acronym “LGBT” (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) which is a favorite of many politicians and media personalities.

Essentially, “transgender” refers to someone who is physically and biologically male or female, but believes themselves to actually be the opposite sex. Until fairly recently, this phenomenon was universally seen as a mental disorder — a type of disassociation the person suffered. It was (and still is) known as “gender-identity disorder.” Today, however, many people are beginning to shy away from calling it a “disorder” thanks in large part to the pressures of political correctness.

So what would the Church say about these things? Not surprisingly, she would say that people suffering from this disorder must be treated with compassion and respect. But she would also insist that we deal with the person in a truthful manner — including the truth of the disorder.

In other words, we deal with the problem where it exists. In this case, with the person’s perception of themselves, not with their body, since there is nothing wrong with their body.

This also gets to the heart of what the Church would say about the importance and essential nature of our physical bodies. Every person is a man or woman as revealed by their body. A healthy, normal body (either male or female) is not where the problem lies for someone who claims to be “transgender.”

Rather, the problem lies with their acceptance of that identity as revealed by their body. That part of our identity does not and cannot change.

The body reveals the truth of who the person is, not simply who they perceive themselves to be. The body presents an observable, biological, scientific fact — it is its own statement of objective reality — not open to a “subjective” interpretation. For example, if I believe that I am 6’2” tall, but am in reality only 5’2”, that belief, no matter how powerful it is or how sincerely I’m convinced of it, or how much I want it to be true, will not change the fact that I am 5’2”. Reality remains what reality always was, unchanged and unchangeable by belief or perception.

When it comes to someone like Bruce Jenner, he will always be a man regardless of what female name he gives himself, how many people call him by it, or what clothing he chooses to wear. Not even surgery can erase his being a man (although it could certainly mutilate his male body and make it appear more like a female one).

The discussion surrounding issues like these can be a great opportunity for us as Christians who believe the human body to be something incredibly good. Remember that Jesus “took on flesh” and became like us in every respect except sin. It was through His body that, though God, He was able to die and so win our salvation. This means that every part of us, not just our souls, but also our bodies, are good and destined for salvation!

Our bodies are good, just as they are, because they make us to be human and reveal something essential about us, to us. Our rejection of that revealed identity does not have the power to change it.

Sadly, as society loses its grip not only on God, but also on truth itself, we should not be surprised that even obvious truths get ignored in favor of imagined ones, and displaying one’s psychological disassociation in public becomes seen as something heroic.