Homosexuality and divorce divide synod

At the end of their two-week synod in the Vatican, 'The Pastoral Challenges of the Family in the Context of Evangelization', September 2014, the Catholic bishops of their world were unable to agree on a reform course regarding homosexuals and divorcees. The corresponding sections of the final document published on the 18 September 2014 failed to achieve the necessary majority.

The Church shouldn't be surprised to see more of its members turn their backs on it, some commentators in European newspaper criticise. Others however praised Pope Francis for forcing the bishops towards greater openness.

The call to 'accept and value' homosexuals was in a draft report, but failed to win the backing of two-thirds of the bishops at the synod in Rome. The final report adopted only said that anti-gay discrimination was 'to be avoided'.

Two other paragraphs suggesting divorced and remarried Catholics could receive communion also failed to pass.

The synod would meet again in a year's time for further discussion.

• Primary Source

Euro|Topics: Tag: Vatican http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/aehnliche/?likearticle=152183®ion=75788

Catholic Church in England and Wales: Synod of Bishops on the Family 2014 http://www.catholic-ew.org.uk/Home/Featured/Synod-of-Bishops-on-the-Family-2014

BBC News, 19.10.14: Catholic synod: Gay rights groups 'disappointed' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-29678751

Deutsche Welle, 19.10.14: Opinion: It's a start. Nothing more, nothing less http://dw.de/p/1DYPD

France24, 20.10.14: Bishops fail to reach deal on ‘welcoming’ gays http://www.france24.com/en/20141018-vatican-synod-fail-agree-welcome-gays-catholic-church/

ILGA Europe: News, 20.10.14: Flemish Catholics react to Bishops’ Synod http://www.ilga-europe.org/home/guide_europe/country_by_country/belgium/flemish_catholics_react_to_bishops_synod

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