Emphasis

I don't expect the church to have views on gender and sexuality that I'd totally embrace any time soon. My problem has long been with the emphasis. Think homosexual "acts" are a sin? Abortion and birth control are wrong? Okay, fine, go ahead. It's your church. But these weren't exactly things that Jesus dude spent much time focusing on, at least according to that little book that's in my hotel nightstand. Even if basic doctrine doesn't change radically, one would hope the emphasis does.

VATICAN CITY, Oct 13 (Reuters) - In a dramatic shift in tone, a Vatican document said on Monday that homosexuals had "gifts and qualities to offer" and asked if Catholicism could accept gays and recognise positive aspects of same-sex couples.

The document, prepared after a week of discussions at an assembly of 200 bishops on the family, said the Church should challenge itself to find "a fraternal space" for homosexuals without compromising Catholic doctrine on family and matrimony.