Pope Francis meets with Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski, left, at the Vatican. On the pontiff’s orders, the Vatican will convene a meeting of senior clerics this fall to reexamine church teachings that touch the most intimate aspects of people’s lives. (Vincenzo Pinto / AFP/Getty Images / April 26, 2014)
Contraception, cohabitation, divorce, remarriage and same-sex unions: They’re issues that pain and puzzle Roman Catholics who want to be true to both their church and themselves.
Now those issues are about to be put up for debate by their leader, a man who appears determined to push boundaries and effect change.
On Pope Francis‘ orders, the Vatican will convene an urgent meeting of senior clerics this fall to reexamine church teachings that touch the most intimate aspects of people’s lives. Billed as an “extraordinary” assembly of bishops, the gathering could herald a new approach by the church to the sensitive topics.
Los Angeles Times’ Henry Chu reports from Vatican City on the synod taking place this fall.