VATICAN CITY (AP) – Few Vatican meetings have enjoyed as controversial a run-up as the three-week gathering of bishops on family issues that opens Sunday: There have been allegations of manipulation and coercion. Secret caucuses to plot strategy. A de-facto law passed to take the wind out of the debate. And on the eve of the synod, a Vatican monsignor outing himself, urging the pope to hear his voice, and denouncing widespread homophobia in the church.
Francis opens the contentious meeting of 270 of the world’s bishops with a Mass on Sunday morning, buoyed by his recent star turn in the United States, but dogged by deepening divisions between conservatives and progressives precisely over the issues he has asked them to discuss: ministering to today’s Catholic families in all their shapes and colors, including gays, those who divorce and other Catholics in “irregular” family situations.
The split came strongly to the fore last year during the first-round of the bishops’ meeting, and both sides have only dug in over the ensuing 12 months. As a result, sparks are expected to fly when the men, and a smattering of non-voting women, get down to work Monday.
“We are happy if there is turbulence,” said Cardinal Lorenzo Baldisseri, the Italian running the synod. “We are in the sea, and so there has to be some turbulence.”
Francis launched the synod process two years ago by sending out a 39-point questionnaire to bishops, parishes and ordinary Catholic families around the world asking about their understanding of and adherence to church teaching on family matters. Their responses showed a widespread rift between official Catholic teaching and practice, particularly on sex, marriage and homosexuality.