Vatican Document Takes Lenient Stance on Gays, Divorced Couples

A Vatican document published today asked whether Catholicism could recognize the value of same-sex relations and unmarried live-in couples, thus potentially opening the door to deep changes in Catholic Church practice.

“Homosexuals have gifts and qualities to offer to the Christian community,” said the “relatio post disceptationem”, a document read aloud to the Synod of Bishops on the family, a gathering of bishops, cardinals, priests and lay faithful that is meeting in Rome from Oct. 5 through Oct. 19. In some same-sex relations, “mutual aid to the point of sacrifice constitutes a precious support in the life of the partners.”

These words and others “represent an earthquake, the ‘big one’ that hit after months of smaller tremors,” John Thavis, Vatican expert and author of “The Vatican Diaries” said on his blog. They “clearly reflect the pope’s desire to adopt a more merciful pastoral approach on marriage and family issues.”

The document, which was prepared by a group of church officials chosen by Pope Francis, will form the basis of discussions during the final week of the meeting. While the Synod reaffirmed traditional Catholic doctrine rejecting divorce and gay marriage, the document’s tone and language set it aside from past statements and may serve as a first stepping stone for further discussions.

A second session of the Synod in 2015 will be tasked with advancing practical proposals.

An issue that could face concrete changes is that of remarried divorced persons, who are currently banned from receiving communion even though there is a strong push within the Church to allow them to fully participate in religious life.

There is a need to look carefully at “cohabitation, civil marriages and divorced or remarried persons,” said the document. “In such unions it is possible to grasp authentic family values or at least wish for them.”