Youth synod final report is released, addresses topics of young people, faith and vocational discernment

The final report of the 50th general session of the Synod of Bishops, held on the topics of young people, faith and vocational discernment, was released on Saturday, Oct. 27.  The document says the Catholic Church must find new ways of presenting its teaching on sexuality and continue to "accompany" and "listen to" people with same-sex attraction.

The final draft of the synod report was presented to members Oct. 27 for voting, which took place in two sessions that day. The draft was passed in its entirety. During the voting process, each paragraph of the document was voted on, requiring 166 or more "yes" votes -- a two-thirds majority -- to pass and be included in the final report. Each paragraph passed by a comfortable margin.

The 167-paragraph document states that the "Church struggles to convey the beauty of the Christian vision of the body and sexuality," and therefore "a search for more adequate methods is urgently needed."

"It is necessary to propose to young people an anthropology of affectivity and sexuality capable of giving the right value to chastity, showing pedagogically the most authentic meaning for the growth of the person," the synod fathers wrote.

The 55-page final report of the synod was published Oct. 27. The report is broken into three parts, each titled after parts of the New Testament account of Jesus meeting his disciples on the road to Emmaus: "He walked with them; their eyes were opened; they set out at once."

Each of the parts contains chapters and smaller sections within the chapters.

The document contains two paragraphs specifically on the issue of human sexuality, which is says requires focusing on "empathetic listening, accompaniment and discernment, along the line indicated by the recent Magisterium."

To read the entire story from Catholic News Agency, visit https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/youth-synod-final-report-released-addresses-gender-sexuality-30894

Read more about the synod from Vatican News at https://www.vaticannews.va/en/events/synod2018.html

In above photo, bishops are shown inside the synod hall. Photo by Daniel Ibanez, Catholic News Agency.