Following the release of a document calling for tolerance toward gay and divorced Catholics, the recently convened Synod of the Catholic Bishops in Rome is on its back foot.
The report, which was a debate summary of ongoing discussion rather than a press release, initially drew praise from several media outlets who took it as an indication of potential doctrinal changes. Steve Newsome of the Human Rights Campaign, a gay advocacy group, used the document to speculate that the Catholic Church is “perhaps poised to support marriage equality” while Reuters called it a “dramatic shift in tone”.
While the report has been characterized as a radical shift, statements in support of compassion and charity are very much consistent with traditional Catholic teaching. In fact, the official Catechism of the Catholic Church, published 22 years ago, specifically called for “respect, compassion and sensitivity” towards homosexuals despite containing doctrines proscribing both same-sex marriage and homosexual acts.
Although the Synod’s release of “Relatio post disceptationem” or “Report after the debate” does not represent a change in Catholic theology, inaccurate coverage has created confusion around the Church’s position on social issues. South African Cardinal Wilfrid Napier addressed the problem stating “The message has gone out and it’s not a true message,”. Napier went on to say clarification from the Synod would look like “damage control” that the situation places the Church in a vulnerable position.
And indeed, attempts to qualify the Synod’s statements and address misrepresentation have been characterized as conservative dissent by news organizations including The Huffington Post and CNN, with the latter going so far as to say The Vatican is under “furious assault from conservatives.” The Huffington Post contributed to the narrative, pointing out that the report received “41 responses” including feedback from what they characterized as “staunch conservatives”. This is probably less surprising than it seems — the document related discussions in a debate, and debates generally contain areas of disagreement.
The Vatican is, of course, not under siege from conservative bishops and cardinals, nor is the Synod necessarily backtracking from its earlier statements. The Synod is simply clarifying what the direction of the discussion actually was. The Catholic Church still refuses to sanction either gay marriage or divorce, but maintains that those who partake in those practices deserve compassion, dignity and the opportunity to seek God.
