Area Catholics React To Vatican's Synod
PHILADELPHIA (CBS/AP) -- Area Catholics were sharing their thoughts Sunday on the results of a two-week meeting of Catholic bishops at the Vatican that concluded a day earlier with new language on the Church's view of gays and other issues being rejected.
Catholic bishops scrapped their landmark welcome to gays, showing deep divisions at the end of the meeting sought by Pope Francis to chart a more merciful approach to ministering to Catholic families.
The bishops failed to approve even a watered-down section on ministering to gays that stripped away the welcoming tone contained in a draft document.
Another hot-button issue at the synod -- whether divorced and civilly remarried Catholics can receive communion -- also failed to pass.
One day after the meeting wrapped up, worshipers at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Philadelphia offered their opinions on the outcome.
Matthew Pinto said the church has to be open to discuss issues like homosexuality and divorce.
"We need to constantly look at how we're approaching certain questions," he said.
But Pinto, who runs a Catholic book publishing company out of West Chester, said traditions, with a "Capital T" just can't change.
"At the end of the day, everything needs to be delivered from a posture of love," he said. "But we would say love involves law."
But not everyone agrees, especially when it comes to rolling out the welcome mat for gay Catholics.
"As far as welcoming the gay people in the church," said one man who wished to remain anonymous. "they're already in the church."
Mindy, who is in the process of becoming a Catholic, was soaking it all in, including a piece of advice.
"Someone very wise told me you don't have to agree with everything that the church teaches," she said, "you just have to be willing to submit to the authority of the church."
Pope Francis insisted in the name of transparency that the full document be published with the voting tally. The document is to serve as the basis for future debate leading up to another meeting of bishops next October.
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