Catholic Church debates family issues
October 5, 2014
Pope Francis on Sunday opened an extraordinary synod of nearly 200 bishops and some lay representatives that is to review the Roman Catholic Church's attitude to issues such as marriage, cohabitation, divorce and homosexuality.
On the eve of the meeting, Francis had told tens of thousands of believers in St. Peter's square that he was hoping for a "sincere, open and fraternal debate" addressing the gulf between Church teachings on these questions and the actual daily practice of Catholics across the world.
Last year, the 77-year-old pontiff set the stage for such a debate by sending out surveys to bishops' conferences all over the world, in which ordinary Catholics were able to give input on their attitudes to church teachings on family life.
Gap between theory and practice
The surveys showed that most Catholics ignored and rejected church teaching on sex and contraception, as well as calling for reform of the Vatican's attitude to homosexuality and same-sex marriage.
The Church currently teaches that homosexual acts are "intrinsically disordered."
Among other things, the synod will debate the issue of Catholics who divorce and then remarry, who for centuries have not been allowed to receive communion.
Critics say this rule is ridiculous in light of the fact that the Church permits even repentant murderers or people who have been involved in organized crime and asked for forgiveness to take part in the ceremony.
Pope of reform?
However, Vatican observers say deep divisions within the Church hierarchy make it unlikely that the synod will produce any recommendations on changing the Church's views on such matters as gay marriage or artificial contraception, which are both officially banned.
Francis himself has signalled flexibility in interpreting Church rulings, among other things by personally marrying 20 couples from Rome last month, some of whom had cohabited before their weddings - something described by the Church as "living in sin."
"The Church is a mother, not a customs office, coldly checking who is within the rules," Francis said.