"German bishops’ synod working doc calls for approval of contraception, homosexuality, women’s ordination"

"The working documents in preparation for the assemblies of the German bishops’ 'Synodal Path' defend the use of contraception, the practice of masturbation, and an active homosexual lifestyle. Additionally, neither the question of the ordination of women nor that of making celibacy optional for priests is taken off the table...

The working document’s chapter dealing with sexual morality is revealingly titled, 'On the further development of Catholic teaching on sexuality.' The document demands sexual morality must develop 'on the basis of insights of the human sciences, including the life experience […] of (faithful) loving people.'

The document describes that relying on the human sciences, namely 'psychology, sociology, anthropology,' would open up the many prohibitions of sexual morality as proposed by the teaching authority of the Church, 'which sees sexual activity only within marriage, and still directed strongly towards procreation.'

Consequently, the document justifies the use of contraception, the practice of masturbation, and an active homosexual lifestyle.

Regarding contraception, the document states, 'Not every sexual act must remain open to procreation: the principle of responsible parenthood is extended to include the element of family planning through the free choice of a means of contraception appropriate to the respective life situation. Family planning, even by means of artificial contraception, is not a hostile act, but supports the right of a couple to make a responsible joint decision on the number of children, the intervals between births and the concrete means of family planning.'...

Without using the term 'masturbation,' the working document in preparation of the Synodal Path in Germany states, 'The joyful experience of one’s own body (self sex) can also mean a responsible approach to one’s own sexuality.'...

Finally, according to the working document, 'homosexual acts also realize positive meaningful values, insofar as they are an expression of friendship, reliability, loyalty and support in life.' Homosexuality, it adds, should no longer be considered as intrinsically evil. A blessing of homosexual unions is not excluded by the working document...

Signaling where the church in Germany is headed,Cardinal Marx, who is the head of the German Bishops' Conference, stated in an interview earlier this month that homosexuals belong to the Church’s 'sacramental community' and has defended 'blessing' homosexual couples."