Vatican Proposes Dramatic Shift In Attitude Towards Gays, Same Sex Couples
Philip Pullella Reuters 10/13/14 08:39 AM ET

(Reuters) - In a dramatic shift in tone, a Vatican document said on Monday that homosexuals had "gifts and qualities to offer" and asked if Catholicism could accept gays and recognize positive aspects of same-sex couples.

The document, prepared after a week of discussions at an assembly of 200 bishops on the family, said the Church should challenge itself to find "a fraternal space" for homosexuals without compromising Catholic doctrine on family and matrimony.

While the text did not signal any change in the Church's condemnation of homosexual acts or its opposition to gay marriage, it used language that was less judgmental and more compassionate than past Vatican statements under previous popes.

The document will be the basis for discussion for the second and final week of the assembly, known as a synod, which was called by Pope Francis and focuses on the theme of the family.

It will also serve for further reflection among Catholics around the world ahead of another, definitive synod next year.

"Homosexuals have gifts and qualities to offer the Christian community: are we capable of welcoming these people, guaranteeing to them a further space in our communities? Often they wish to encounter a Church that offers them a welcoming home," said the document, known by its Latin name "relatio".

"Are our communities capable of proving that, accepting and valuing their sexual orientation, without compromising Catholic doctrine on the family and matrimony?" it asked.

John Thavis, Vatican expert and author of the bestselling 2013 book "The Vatican Diaries", called the document "an earthquake" in the Church's attitude towards gays.

"The document clearly reflects Pope Francis' desire to adopt a more merciful pastoral approach on marriage and family issues," he said.

A number of participants at the closed-door synod have said the Church should tone down its condemnatory language when referring to gay couples and avoid phrases such as "intrinsically disordered" when speaking of homosexuals.

That was the phrase used by former Pope Benedict in a document written before his election, when he was still Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger and head of the Vatican's doctrinal department.

EDUCATIONAL CHALLENGE

The language and tone of Monday's document, read to the assembly in the presence of Pope Francis, appeared to show that the advocates of a more merciful tone toward homosexuals and Catholics in so-called "irregular situations" had prevailed.

It said that the 1.2 billion-member Church should see the development of its position on homosexuals as "an important educational challenge" for the global institution.

While the Church continued to affirm that gay unions "cannot be considered on the same footing as matrimony between man and woman", it should recognize that there could be positive aspects to relationships in same-sex couples.

"Without denying the moral problems connected to homosexual unions it has to be noted that there are cases in which mutual aid to the point of sacrifice constitutes a precious support in the life of the partners," the document said.

Pope Francis has said the Church must be more compassionate with homosexuals, saying last year: "If a person is gay and seeks God and has good will, who am I to judge."

The Church teaches that while homosexual tendencies are not sinful, homosexual acts are.

The document also showed considerable opening to heterosexual couples who were married only in civil services or who were living together, mentioning "positive aspects" of such unions, especially if the couple saw them as a prelude to marriage in the Church.

While Church marriages clearly were "the ideal" for Catholics, it said, there were "constructive elements in those situations that do not yet or no longer correspond to that ideal".

Catholics used to call such cohabitation arrangements "living in sin", another phrase that bishops at the synod were urged not to use when speaking about these couples.

mmsen:
The Catholic Church has been harbouring homosexuals within its ranks since its inception all the while preaching something else to its parishioners.

mmsen:
The Catholic Church has been harbouring homosexuals within its ranks since its inception all the while preaching something else to its parishioners.

Ubenedictus:


hehehe, yeah, homosexuals have been in the church for centuries and the church has always told her parishioners that while the inclination is disorder, it isn't sin in and of itself, she has taught that a homosexual person is as much a human being as any other, is dignified is his existence and must be respected as such. They should be accepted with compassion and sensivity.

I can't find the hypocrisy u are talking about.

beryl04:



Much as I see what the new pope is doing as a step in d right direction ,I still maintain that homosexuality is not and can never be a sin!

The catholic church should just park well with this their hate the sin and not d sinner jargon.if I as a homosexual is a sinner by default, that means the next man who is a heterosexual is also a sinner and his heterosexual practices also should be considered a sin!

All man are born equal, so heterosexuals should stop arrogating themselves with that holier-than-thou attitude they always have towards homosexuals which has always been hugely aided by the church ,mostly catholic as a result of its long years of existence.

I am not a sinner and having sex with my boyfriend is not and should not be seen as sinning!
The catholic church's been in d fore-front of this hate mongering that has put a lot of innocent souls in harms way for centuries and it's all good that they're are pioneering the start of acceptance and inclusiveness in our age .
But just for the records,it's not enough!
Full acceptance,equality and acceptance and blessing of same-sex marriages will prolly do it.

So pope Francis, well done for the teeny-tiny baby steps but no, I am not a sinner!

masonkz:
Yes, we do have gifts and talents, and if only people can look beyond our intimate orientation, but rather how we can all collectively develop, the world would be a better place.

asalimpo:
The catholic church has an editable bible?
The bible is clear on this thngs - nobody else opinion matters.

asalimpo:

are u gay?

Omowhara:
Smh.. Instead of focusing on the important issue of marriage by choice for Rev. Fathers, bishops and cardinals in order to ameliorate the level sexual temptation, molestations and abused that ve rocked the catholic church in recent years he's talking gay shit.. And one of the reasons given was that catholic church has been losing members to other churches due to its stance on gay shit.. WTF!!! Are laws of the church created to please man or God?

asalimpo:
The catholic church has an editable bible?
The bible is clear on this thngs - nobody else opinion matters.

italo:


1. So how does the Bible ask us to treat gays?

2. Don't forget that the new testament was written by Catholics and the Bible was compiled at a Synod of Catholic Bishops in Rome in 382, similar to this Synod. They have the authority to interprete the Bible, not you.

Noneroone:
sorry but u sound so pathetic!

italo:


Attack the argument, not the person.

Noneroone:
please read the comment again, i mean your argument is funny.

Dbryan:
Is the church accepting them to help change their orientation and inculcate in them that God made it to be between a male and a female or are they being welcum cux they have 'qualities and gift'to offer thereby polluting the body of Christ?hmm some persons need to be reminded the reasons why God destroyed sodom and gomorah.

italo:

Is that the law that changed?
Till tomorrow, homosexual acts are sinful according to Catholic teaching.
Till eternity.

italo:


Why did God destroy Sodom and Gomorrah?

Dbryan:
Consult your bible