World

Top Vatican cardinal wants speeches by bishops about family life made public

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Pope Francis is flanked by Indian Cardinal Oswald Gracias as they leave at the end of the morning session of the Synod on family, a two-week meeting of 200 cardinals and bishops from around the world, at the Vatican, Thursday, Oct. 9, 2014. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino) (The Associated Press)

Ron and Mavis Pirola, a Catholic couple from Sydney, Australia, pose for a reporter's photograph at the end of the morning session of a two-week synod on family issues, at the Vatican, Thursday, Oct. 9, 2014. Pope Francis, cardinals and bishops from around the world got an unexpected lecture Wednesday on the joys of sex from the Catholic couple brought in to talk about what makes a marriage last. Ron and Mavis, parents of four, told that sexual attraction brought them together 57 years ago and that sex has helped keep them married for 55 years. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino) (The Associated Press)

Ron and Mavis Pirola, a Catholic couple from Sydney, Australia, pose for a reporter's photograph at the end of the morning session of a two-week synod on family issues, at the Vatican, Thursday, Oct. 9, 2014. Pope Francis, cardinals and bishops from around the world got an unexpected lecture Wednesday on the joys of sex from the Catholic couple brought in to talk about what makes a marriage last. Ron and Mavis, parents of four, told that sexual attraction brought them together 57 years ago and that sex has helped keep them married for 55 years. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino) (The Associated Press)

The Vatican's doctrine czar has said the Holy See should publish the speeches by bishops from around the world about family problems, marriage, divorce, gays and sex.

Breaking with tradition, the Vatican decided to withhold printed summaries of bishops' remarks to the two-week synod of bishops. Officials said the aim was to encourage freer debate, but the change prompted protests by journalists shut out of the proceedings.

Cardinal Gerhard Mueller told one of the two Catholic TV broadcasters allowed inside the synod hall that the speeches should be made public. He said "All Christians have the right to be informed about the intervention of their bishops."

Vatican spokesmen have staged daily briefings summarizing the debate, but without saying who said what.