Baltimore, USA — The nation's Roman Catholic bishops, on record for years opposing the Iraq war, approved a statement Monday saying U.S. troops should remain in Iraq "only as long as their presence contributes to a responsible transition."
The statement was a last- minute addition to the agenda for nearly 300 bishops gathered at the annual fall meeting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Also on the agenda: controversial documents on Communion, ministering to homosexuals and contraception. Drafted at the request of several bishops, it began with "prayerful concern" for military personnel, their families and suffering Iraqis and calls for an end to "divisive rhetoric."
It says, "Our nation should look for effective ways to end (troops') deployment at the earliest opportunity" consistent with contributing to a responsible transition.
The statement, issued in the name of conference president Bishop William Skylstad of Spokane, Wash., reiterated bishops' "grave moral concerns" about the war and condemned torture. It calls for human rights and religious freedom for Sunni, Shia and Christian communities in Iraq.
"This is still a conservative statement. The key word is 'contribute,' " says the Rev. Thomas Reese, a fellow at the Woodstock Theological Center at Georgetown University. "The bishops can't answer this question. That's a military and political answer, but this statement points to the crux of the matter: Does American involvement contribute to improving the situation?"
Bishops will vote today on several documents that reflect their efforts to communicate core Catholic doctrine. These include:
•A document on Communion spelling out who is "worthy" to receive the Eucharist and telling believers not to seek Communion if they knowingly violate church teachings. Anyone — gay or straight — who is having sex outside marriage and married couples who are using artificial contraception should refrain, bishops say.
Rather than expecting priests to play cops over Communion, this document is directed to all the faithful "to help people form their conscience," said Bishop Arthur Serratelli of Paterson, N.J. "Moral law applies to all."
•Pastoral guidelines for bishops ministering to "persons with a homosexual inclination." It repeats the church's stance that homosexuals should be welcomed and treated with respect but should not have positions of ministry or leadership unless they are chaste.
It takes no stance on whether homosexuality is inborn or a matter of choice and says no one is morally obligated to seek therapy. The church condemns gay sexual behavior as a sin.
"The focus of the document is getting individuals to live a virtuous Catholic life," Serratelli said Monday. "The tenor is to be more welcoming than condemning."
Groups representing gay Catholics complained the bishops drafted the guidelines without consulting homosexual Catholics and said it will likely alienate them even further. DignityUSA called for gay Catholics to be able to participate in "all sacraments and roles of ministry, leadership and service."
•The bishops considered a Q&A text on the theology of marriage and procreation designed "for the first time with engaged and married couples in mind," said Baltimore Archbishop William Keeler. An accompanying report notes Catholics use artificial contraception, condemned by the church, as much as the general population.
Also, bishops approved spending $335,000 for the first year of a study into causes and context of clergy sexual abuse of minors.