Pope Francis gets the last word . . . for now on gays and the church

Pope Francis had an assembly of Catholic bishops at the Vatican for a two week discussion on the position of the church on family and social issues.   At the end of the first week, a Vatican-proposed document was distributed for discussion.   It called for a more welcoming openness to gay members, and even spoke of acknowledging gay relationships.  It did not go as far as suggesting changing doctrine that considers homosexual acts sinful and gay marriage unthinkable. 

This proposal clearly reflects Francis' influence in creating a more compassionate and less rigid pastoral stance of the church.   But the synod (assembly) would not have it, even a less inflammatory revision.  They struck the whole thing out of the final document.

Reportedly the Vatican plans to distribute the proposal and the discussion that ensued, along with the final document.   It will be the subject of conversations throughout the global church in the coming year, to be followed by another synod next year to continue the discussion.

Pope Francis, who probably knew that this will take time, seemed undaunted by the reaction.  "God is not afraid of new things. . . .  That is why he is continuously surprising us, opening our hearts and guiding us in unexpected ways," he said in a sermon to 70,000 people gathered in St. Peter's Square.

He called the sometimes heated discussion "a great experience" because the bishops had spoken "in true freedom and humble creativity."

John Tavis, author of The Vatican Diaries said that, by making the synod a two step process with local discussion in between the two assemblies of bishops, the pope "showed that he was not afraid of real debate. . . .  Pope Francis clearly placed the Church on a new path, toward an evangelizing style that is less focused on doctrine and more willing to invite people in, no matter what their status."

I do not share Francis' theological or doctrinal beliefs, but I continue to admire just about everything else about him, including the direction he is trying to lead the Church.   He is in so many ways the opposite of predecessor, whom I often criticized for being so out of touch with the real world.

Ralph