Some of the Catholics attending services Sunday at churches in Portland and Lewiston said the news media misinterpreted events at a Vatican synod last week and failed to grasp the subtleties of what will be a yearlong discussion of the church’s teachings and doctrines about family, marriage and sexuality.

They said that instead of focusing on the consensus-building taking place, the media sensationalized the divisions between conservative and liberal factions of the church on a few hot-button issues.

“The biggest issue was the news reporting,” said Debbie Littleton of Auburn, a lifelong Catholic.

The Catholics were reacting to a two-week meeting of bishops from around the world – called the Synod on the Family – that was convened by Pope Francis at the Vatican to discuss some of the most contentious issues of Catholic family life, including homosexuality.

In its catechism, the church teaches that homosexual tendencies themselves are not sinful, but acting on them is sinful. Homosexuality is described as “intrinsically disordered” and “contrary to natural law.” But homosexuals “must be accepted with respect, compassion and sensitivity” by the church and “every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided.”

At the synod, a draft report released early last week made headlines for containing language that signaled a more tolerant and merciful approach to ministering to families, noting that homosexuals have “gifts and qualities” to offer the church. By the end of the synod Saturday, the more tolerant language had been removed from the draft. After a year of reflection, the synod will reconvene next fall to finalize the document.

In Maine, the synod triggered discussions Sunday inside Catholic church foyers and in parking lots.

Littleton said in Lewiston that the Catholic Church has always welcomed homosexuals, as it does all people. “The tendency toward homosexuality is different than acting on it,” she said.

Rick Morton of Los Angeles, on his annual October visit to his native city of Portland and its Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, said he finds Pope Francis’ message of tolerance to be more like that of Jesus.

“I struggle with how God wants us to live. I just pray for mercy and love and somehow we will get through this and families who have been divided by this will be together again. If we remain faithful and pray, good things will happen,” Morton said.

Chatting with parishioners at the Portland cathedral, the Rev. Seamus Griesbach, vocations director for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland, said he welcomes the discussion of family issues but was dismayed at the media coverage that seemed to pit the pope against conservative elements in the church.

“The pope asked for a free and open discussion and he got it. We have a yearlong process. I would hope the media would take a deep breath,” Griesbach said.

He said the media turned the discussion into a controversy that doesn’t exist in the church. He has never heard a Catholic homily or any preaching against homosexuals, Griesbach said.

“We are not checking sexuality at the door,” he said.

Some of those attending services Sunday at the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Lewiston said they agreed with the changes made by the bishops to the draft document, upholding church doctrine that hasn’t changed for centuries.

“Our dear pope and the bishops are not going to give up 2,000 years of faith,” said Louise Fecteau of Hebron.

Chris Rioux of Lewiston said he wholeheartedly accepted the actions taken at the synod because practicing homosexuality is a sin, according to church doctrine. “There is a big difference between a church welcoming homosexuals versus acting out homosexuality,” Rioux said.

Conor O’Brien of Woolwich said the church is forgiving of all sinners, but he cannot condone what church doctrine says is a great mortal sin.

“That would be condoning something that would send them to hell. You would become complicit in their sin,” O’Brien said.

Jake Hanley of Palermo said the bishops did the right thing in toning down the language on homosexuality, even though he has homosexual friends.

“Sin is sin. Virtue is virtue. To try to paint it as anything other is false sincerity,” he said.

Copy the Story Link