The Catholic Church, with its strict prohibition of homosexuality and divorce, is not known for tolerance. Could that be changing? This week, during a synod on the family, the Vatican released a document that contained a dramatic shift in tone.
The Church did not signal any change in its condemnation of homosexual acts or its opposition to gay marriage, but its language was much less judgemental and more conciliatory than previous Vatican statements have been. The statement said that the teachings of the Church should be accompanied “with mercy” and that it should focus on the “positive aspects” of different life models.
The document, relation post disceptationem, said:
"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.
"Are our communities capable of proving that, accepting and valuing their sexual orientation, without compromising Catholic doctrine on the family and matrimony?"
It does not contain any decisions but it gives an indication of the direction of travel of the synod, called by Pope Francis, which continues this week. Analysts say that this change of tone is reflective of Pope Francis’s wish to take a more conciliatory tone on homosexuality. His predecessor, Pope Benedict, had described gay relationships as “intrinsically disordered”, but last year, Pope Francis said: "If a person is gay and seeks God and has good will, who am I to judge?"
The document appears to be an attempt to reconcile the catechism’s condemnation of homosexual acts with this desire to be more welcoming:
“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 also showed a softening of language on heterosexual couples married in civil services (rather than Church weddings) or who were living together. Traditionally, Catholics preach that this is “living in sin”, but the document says that there are “positive aspects of civil unions and cohabitation.”
The document will now be debated within the Church, which is split between those who agree with Pope Francis’s move towards openness and mercy, and those who are concerned that the fundamental doctrines of the religion could be betrayed.
