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Hermaphroditism
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Noldin, Summa of Moral Theology
Vol. III, Book Eight. On Matrimony., Question Five. On the Impe…, Article Three. On Diriment…, Sect. 2, On Hermaphroditism.
575. In order that the state of the question may be clear, perfect, imperfect, and improperly so-called hermaphroditism must be distinguished.
a. Hermaphrodites (Zwitter) are properly said to be human beings who share in the organs of both sexes and therefore in the work of generation can, at pleasure, act either as male or as female. It is certain today from the laws of physiology that such true and perfect hermaphrodites have never existed and can never exist; but it is ascertained that imperfect and improperly so-called hermaphrodites exist and have existed.
Therefore the doctrine of the ancients concerning hermaphrodites, which St. Alphonsus proposes from Busenbaum in this way: "If one sex predominates, matrimony will be valid according to that sex only; if both are equal, the option is given to them that they may use either, yet in such a way that whichever they have once chosen, they must always retain" - this doctrine, I say, must be held as antiquated.
b. Improperly so-called hermaphrodites are human beings of a determinate sex who nevertheless, besides their proper organs, are endowed with some one of the essential organs of the other sex, e.g., a male with a female ovary or uterus, a female with a male testicle. These indeed are not unfit for completing the work of generation.
c. Imperfect hermaphrodites (Scheinzwitter) are said to be human beings of doubtful sex, who are neither true males nor true females, since their sexual organs are so formed that they can be held as organs of either sex. These are ordinarily unfit for completing the work of generation, since in it they can act neither as male nor as female.2 Human beings of this sort must be kept away from the clerical, priestly, or religious state.
1 A hermaphrodite (Hermaphroditus) is said to be a human being who, born of Mercury (Hermes) and Venus (Aphrodite), shares in both sexes.
2 Cf. A. Eschbach, Disputationes physiolog. theolog., 2nd ed., p. 53.
Bucceroni, Commentaries (1910)
Ch. IV, Article II: On Impotence
- Are there truly hermaphrodites?
Resp. Debreyne denies it, saying that hermaphroditism is not given except as apparent from some defect of organization; but one determinate sex really always prevails, in which case marriage will be possible; or that no determinate sex capable of generation exists, although there is coexistence of the organs of male and female, and then by reason of impotence marriage is impossible. 2. P., Ch. 1. Sect. 1. at the end. But according to Milne Edwards, not only apparent hermaphroditism is possible, but also the coexistence of organs of male and female, Tom. 9., pp. 80. 81. 23.; Tom. 8., p. 369. But where the coexistence of organs of male and female is had, although perhaps in some case marriage could still be possible, nevertheless it is impossible that one and the same individual himself alone should be naturally fecundated and generate. Antonelli, l. c. v. 1. c. 20. Cf. here following n.
Tanquerey
Vol. I, Matrimony, and Holy Orders, On Marriage (Volume I), Supplement to the Treatise on Marriage
Scholion: On Hermaphrodites.
- Hermaphrodites are called those who are judged to participate in both sexes, so that they can at will carry out the office of one or the other sex. Today it is certainly established that such do not exist, if we believe the judgment of experts.
2 Cf. Eschbach, p. 53-54; Surbled, op. cit., p. 148-155.
But there are men who, besides the complete organs of one sex, have something from the organs of the other; others who are incompletely endowed with the organs of both sexes, so that they are impotent; and finally others concerning whose sex there is doubt, especially as long as they are not pubescent. These things being posited:
(a) Hermaphrodites in whom one sex prevails are to be adjudged to this sex, nor can they carry out the functions of the other: these can marry, since nothing proves them to be impotent.
(b) Those who in tender years are thought to be of the female sex, and afterward are proved to belong to the other sex, must assume male clothing; but before they are admitted to marriage, prudence demands that the judgment of physicians be sought concerning their potency.
(c) Finally those who remain neutral, so that neither sex prevails in them, are to be kept from entering marriage, as being impotent.