What Could Possibly Go Wrong?
Vatican tries to catch up with modern morality
The Vatican has called on important church figures around the world to find out what their parishioners think about subjects such as gay marriage, divorce and birth control.
Bishops and parish priests around the world have been asked to issue an informal survey on the issues preceding a meeting of bishops next year.
The next Roman Catholic synod will discuss issues such as including gay couples and their adopted children in the Church.
A questionnaire relating to the once taboo subjects was sent in October and announced on the National Catholic Reporter's website this week.
Many bishops have already posted the survey online so that Catholics and others can respond.
An introduction to the survey reads: "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."
In September the pontiff said the Church must shake off its obsessions with abortion, contraception and homosexuality and become more merciful.
He said without such changes, the Catholic Church could collapse "like a house of cards".
Marriage, the effectiveness of natural birth control methods, and support for divorced and remarried people who are currently excluded from the sacraments, are also discussed in the survey.
The meeting of the synod of bishops will take place next October.
The Vatican has called on important church figures around the world to find out what their parishioners think about subjects such as gay marriage, divorce and birth control.
Bishops and parish priests around the world have been asked to issue an informal survey on the issues preceding a meeting of bishops next year.
The next Roman Catholic synod will discuss issues such as including gay couples and their adopted children in the Church.
A questionnaire relating to the once taboo subjects was sent in October and announced on the National Catholic Reporter's website this week.
Many bishops have already posted the survey online so that Catholics and others can respond.
An introduction to the survey reads: "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."
In September the pontiff said the Church must shake off its obsessions with abortion, contraception and homosexuality and become more merciful.
He said without such changes, the Catholic Church could collapse "like a house of cards".
Marriage, the effectiveness of natural birth control methods, and support for divorced and remarried people who are currently excluded from the sacraments, are also discussed in the survey.
The meeting of the synod of bishops will take place next October.