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The Vatican is conducting a worldwide survey on how parishes deal with sensitive issues such as contraception, divorce and gay couples.
The Vatican, through the survey, is asking bishops and parish priests around the world about local views on gay marriage, divorce and birth control ahead of a meeting of bishops next year to discuss Roman Catholic Church teachings related to the family.
The poll was sent in mid-October to every national bishops conference with instructions to get the widest possible response. The information is for a major meeting on the family that Pope Francis plans next year.
The National Catholic Reporter was first to report the survey last week. A U.S. bishops’ spokeswoman told The Associated Press the document is authentic and each bishop will decide how to get input.
In England, bishops posted the survey online asking church members to participate.
While it is common practice to send out surveys ahead of such meetings, known as synods, the questionnaire demonstrates a greater sensibility to issues once considered taboo, like how to include the adopted children of gay couples in the Church.
It also shows Pope Francis is reaching out to local parishes and not relying solely on the Church hierarchy on how to implement Catholic teachings.
“Concerns which were unheard of until a few years ago have arisen today as a result of different situations, from the widespread practice of cohabitation… to same-sex unions between persons, who are, not infrequently, permitted to adopt children,” reads an introduction to the survey.
Sources
The Age/The Sydney Morning Herald
Image: AFP/The Sydney Morning Herald
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