Church prepares ‘pastoral quake’ on gays, divorce

VATICAN CITY: Participants in a landmark review of Catholic teaching on the family suggested on Monday that the Church adopt a more positive perspective on the relationships of cohabiting, divorced and gay couples.

Senior clerics handpicked by Pope Francis to draw conclusions from the discussions within an ongoing Vatican City synod of bishops from all over the world issued a working paper that said many saw “positive aspects” to relationships currently officially regarded as “irregular.” Those included same-sex partners, unmarried couples or civilly married couples in which one or both partners is divorced.