VATICAN CITY (AP) β Gay rights groups are hailing what they call a “seismic shift” by the Catholic Church toward gays after bishops said homosexuals have gifts to offer the church and that their partnerships, while morally problematic, provide homosexuals with “precious” support.
In a preliminary report half-way through a Vatican meeting on family life, the bishops also said the church must recognize the “positive” aspects of civil unions and even Catholics who cohabitate, with the aim of bringing them to a lifelong commitment in a church wedding.
The report summarized the closed-door debate that Pope Francis initiated to discuss issues such as marriage, divorce, homosexuality and birth control. No decisions were announced, but the tone of the report was one of almost-revolutionary acceptance rather than condemnation, and it will guide discussions until a final document is issued Saturday.
Conservative groups denounced the report as heresy and a “betrayal” that will only confuse Catholics.
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%@AP Links
162-c-20-(Nicole Winfield, AP correspondent)-“the Catholic Church”-AP correspondent Nicole Winfield reports the world’s Catholic bishops are showing a remarkable shift from dogmatic decrees of the church. (13 Oct 2014)
< 166-c-15-(Nicole Winfield, AP correspondent)-“at the door”-AP correspondent Nicole Winfield reports the Catholic Church is sticking to its values and principles, but with a new openness to Catholics who may have alternative views. (13 Oct 2014) < 165-c-17-(Nicole Winfield, AP correspondent)-“teaching on homosexuality”-AP correspondent Nicole Winfield reports the bishops have reached out to Catholic lay people and are responding to their views. (13 Oct 2014) < 163-c-20-(Nicole Winfield, AP correspondent)-“today reflects that”-AP correspondent Nicole Winfield reports the bishops are calling for what they describe as courageous new ways to minister to families, especially those damaged by divorce. (13 Oct 2014) < 167-c-13-(Nicole Winfield, AP correspondent)-“confuse the faithful”-AP correspondent Nicole Winfield reports conservative Catholics are outraged by the new liberalism expressed by the bishops. (13 Oct 2014) < 164-c-18-(Nicole Winfield, AP correspondent)-“of all stripes”-AP correspondent Nicole Winfield reports the new pope’s more liberal views have had a major impact on the bishops. (13 Oct 2014) <
