NCR Online: LGBTQ issues surface inside and outside Vatican synod
by Christopher White
Vatican Correspondent
An African bishop took to the microphone to make the case for greater pastoral accompaniment of polygamous couples. A day later, a priest took to the floor, giving an almost identical version of the prelate’s remarks, but replacing the word polygamy with LGBTQ.
These were just two scenes from the opening days of Pope Francis’ final Rome gathering of his yearslong synod on synodality project that officially comes to a conclusion here this month.
Several members confirmed these anecdotes but asked for anonymity. Delegates are officially barred from discussing specifics of the conversations that took place inside the Vatican’s synod hall.
The members told the National Catholic Reporter that hot-button issues are being discussed both inside the room and on the sidelines, though the pope has directed that some of the synod’s most contentious issues be sent to study groups for further studies. Among the issues are the role of women’s ministries and LGBTQ inclusion in the church.
The Vatican’s doctrine chief told synod delegates on Oct. 2 that the time is not ripe to pursue women deacons. But at a Vatican press conference on Oct. 9, Deacon Geert De Cubber of Belgium told reporters that the issue is still being discussed inside the assembly.
After spending a month together last year discussing the future of the Catholic Church, some 400 synod delegates have returned to the Eternal City. To a person, the assembly members I’ve interviewed attest to the fact that there’s a deeper sense of trust this year among the body and participants are more at ease with the process and people that have been entrusted with steering the synod forward.