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Halfway through a two-week assembly on family issues for Catholic bishops, the Vatican has released 

a report that's unusually conciliatory toward gays and nonmarital unions

, both long considered contrary to church doctrine.



NPR's Sylvia Poggioli notes that while the report reflects Pope Francis' call for a more merciful church, it does not constitute any change or decision regarding the church's official stances on homosexual acts or gay marriage. Still, one Vatican analyst did describe the report as a "pastoral earthquake."

The New York Times describes the next steps

Religion and Faith

Chris Hopkins

Author

While the report embraces Pope Francis's call for a more merciful church, it does not reflect any change regarding the church's official stances on homosexual acts.

Vatican report expresses more tolerance for gays, unmarried couples

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