The Vatican will be holding an ‘extraordinary meeting’ of Catholic Bishops to discuss issues including same sex unions.
The LA Times has reported that senior clerics will be meeting in October to discuss a number of issues controversial to the church, including same sex unions, divorce, remarriage and cohabitation.
The meeting is set to examine the results of a global survey on attitudes towards family and relationships, and some are hopeful it could signal a softer approach from the church towards these issues.
Commentator John Thavis said: ““It is telling the pope and the Vatican what they already know. But it’s what the Vatican in the past has not wanted to hear.
“It’s strategic, but it’s also a genuine effort to find out what the voice of the church really is on this.
“It’s very much Pope Francis who wants less of a top-down model — the bishops preaching the rules and doctrine down to the faithful — and more of a dialogue.”
