To the editor:
Catholics all around the world are being asked their opinion of church teachings on divorce, same-sex marriage and contraception to inform a Vatican synod on the family by next October. The survey has been sent out to all the bishops' conferences, including the U.S. Council of Catholic Bishops, requesting that the survey be disbursed as far as possible. This has never been done in preparation of a Vatican a synod.
Archbishop Lorenzo Baldisseri, the secretary-general of the Synod of Bishops, has asked the bishops to distribute the questionnaire as widely as possible to their priests and parishes ( including lay people ) for local input.
The document says that the social and spiritual crisis, ''so evident in today's world, is becoming a pastoral challenge'' as the Church seeks to minister to families and encourage the faith.
The survey reflects the pope's pledges to move away from what he called a "Vatican-centric" approach toward one where local church leaders are more involved in decision-making.
The poll findings will help set the agenda for an extraordinary synod, or meeting, of the presidents of national bishops conferences in October 2014.
The Rainbow Sash Movement believes this to be a significant step to further the conversation within the Church, around issues of social justice. Such a survey will create buzz around the issue of LGBT Social Justice Rights and in our opinion can have positive affects.
We think this is good and should be supported.
Joe Murray
Rainbow Sash Movement