Catholic Church acknowledges gay people have 'gifts and qualities to offer' at synod

The Catholic church could be moving to
accept gay members and even
acknowledge positive aspects of same-sex
partnerships following a bishops'
meeting.
A document released by the Vatican on
Monday said "homosexuals have gifts and
qualities to offer to the Christian
community" and asked how that could be
balanced with doctrine.
Roman Catholic gay rights groups around
the world hailed the paper as a
breakthrough, but conservatives called it
a betrayal of traditional family values.
Known as the "relatio post
disceptationem", the document detailed
discussions by 200 senior bishops on the
Church's treatment of LGBT people.
It said: "Are we capable of welcoming
these people, guaranteeing to them a
fraternal space in our communities?
"Often they wish to encounter a Church
that offers them a welcoming home.
"Are our communities capable of
providing that, accepting and valuing
their sexual orientation, without
compromising Catholic doctrine on the
family and matrimony?"
The document said the question
warranted "serious reflection" on how to
educate people on the Roman Catholic
position on sex and confirmed that the
Church cannot consider gay marriage "on
the same footing" as heterosexual
partnerships.
"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," it added.
"Furthermore, the Church pays special
attention to the children who live with
couples of the same sex, emphasizing that
the needs and rights of the little ones
must always be given priority."
It did not signal a change in the Church's
condemnation of gay sex or marriage but
used more balanced language than seen
under Pope Francis' predecessors.
While Pope Benedict was serving as head
of the Vatican's doctrinal department, he
called gay people "intrinsically
disordered" and there has since been an
apparent effort by the Church to tone
down condemnatory language.
Pope Francis has previously said the
Church must be more compassionate
towards the LGBT community, saying last
year: "If a person is gay and seeks God
and has good will, who am I to judge?"
Quest, a London-based Catholic gay rights
group, called parts of the relatio "a
breakthrough in that they acknowledge
that such unions have an intrinsic
goodness and constitute a valuable
contribution to wider society and the
common good."
But John Smeaton, co-founder of the
socially conservative Catholic group Voice
of the Family, called it "one of the worst
official documents drafted in Church
history".
"Those who are controlling the synod
have betrayed Catholic parents
worldwide," he added.
The document also discussed non-
religious marriages and cohabitation
between straight couples, saying the
Church must recognise the modern reality
while "clearly presenting the ideal" of
Catholic marriage.
It will be the basis for discussion for the
second and final week of the bishops'
assembly, known as a synod, which has
been focusing on the family and
controversial issues including abortion,
contraception and divorce.

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