World News

Synod calls church to accept gay people and couples of all kinds

In strikingly conciliatory language on situations contrary to Catholic teaching, an official midterm report from the Synod of Bishops on the family emphasized calls for greater acceptance and appreciation of divorced and remarried Catholics, cohabitating couples and homosexuals.

Mind your language, bishops tell each other in Vatican synod

"Language such as 'living in sin,' 'intrinsically disordered' or 'contraceptive mentality' are not words that invite people to draw closer to Christ and the church," one bishop reportedly said at the Synod of Bishops on the family. Bishops are calling for a new kind of church language more appropriate for pastoral care today.

Synod prays for families suffering because of war

Gathered with Pope Francis, members of the Synod of Bishops on the family issued a message of solidarity, support and prayers for all families suffering the impact of war and violence, especially in Iraq and Syria.

Married life is better with NFP, couples tell bishops

Catholic couples who ignore church teaching on contraception "don't know what they are missing," a Wisconsin couple said at the Synod of Bishops on the family in Rome. They called for new ways to share church teaching about the beauty of family life.

Gospel is joyful path, not burdensome rules, Canadian archbishop says

The church needs to find better ways to show how the Gospel message is a way of life meant to bring great joy to couples and families, and is not a burdensome set of rules aimed at exclusion, one member of the extraordinary Synod of Bishops on the family said.

Synod hears of positive, negative aspects of Catholic-Muslim marriages

When a Catholic and a Muslim marry, each brings a strong commitment to family life and their union can be a seedbed for teaching respect for other religions, but fundamentalist currents often create serious challenges for the Catholic spouse, said members of the Synod of Bishops.

Captors release Franciscan priest kidnapped in Syria

There was no immediate word on 20 other Christians who were abducted Oct. 5-6 from a small Christian village in northwestern Syria. Groups linked to a branch of al-Qaida operating in Syria are believed to be behind the abductions.

Speakers ask pope, synod to clear up ‘confusion’ on contraception

A married couple from Brazil told Pope Francis and the Synod of Bishops that the church should stop giving "contradictory advice" on birth control and help Catholics obey church teaching against contraception.

Vatican official urges rethinking of policies toward migrant families

Migrant families whose members are often separated pose unique challenges as globalization sweeps the world and deserve special consideration so that family unity remains a priority, a Vatican official told a United Nations meeting.

Real-life experience can strengthen church teaching, bishops tell synod

When Catholics see couples who are patient, kind, never jealous or rude, they "behold the beauty and simplicity and strength of married love," but the church also must learn to help and to heal those whose dreams for lifelong love have been shattered, said Scottish Archbishop Philip Tartaglia of Glasgow.