Holy See

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How's this for double standards from the Holy See.

A Catholic priest, Krzysztof Charasma (43), has been performing his priestly duties for years, tending faithfully to his flock, but is sacked the second he announces that he's gay on the eve of an official gathering to consider the Church's teaching on homosexuality, amongst other things.  

So contrast the speed of the Vatican's actions towards Krzysztof Charasma with the church's behaviour towards other priests charged with personal indiscretions of one kind or another, including allegations of the most serious child abuse.

Pope Francis has been on a bit of a role recently, in PR terms, but this important 'synod' and latest incident involving Father Charasma is likely to pose a real challenge to his reformist credentials   

Pope Francis opens Roman Catholic synod amid gay row
BBC Europe
Image copyrightAPImage captionPope Francis opened the synod by saying Mass at St Peter's Basilica

Pope Francis is celebrating Mass at St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, at the start of a synod of Roman Catholic bishops focusing on family issues.

The run-up was dominated by a row over a Vatican priest who on Saturday announced he was in a gay relationship.

Poland-born Krzysztof Charamsa said he wanted to challenge the Church's "backward" attitude to homosexuality.

He was later dismissed from his post at the Vatican's office in charge of guarding Roman Catholic doctrine.

A Vatican spokesman said Monsignor Charamsa's decision to give interviews on the eve of the synod was "grave and irresponsible" and would put Pope Francis under "undue media pressure".

In an interview with the Corriere Della Sera newspaper, the 43-year-old priest said: "It's time the Church opened its eyes and realised that offering gay believers total abstinence from a life of love is inhuman."

The controversy has set the scene for what some fear could be a fractious three weeks, says BBC religious affairs correspondent Caroline Wyatt.

The Synod - a defining moment for Pope Francis

Almost 300 Church leaders - and some lay people - will be discussing such issues as the treatment of Catholics who are gay, and how to approach couples who live together without being married or wish to take communion after being divorced.

Our correspondent says the Church is unlikely to change its doctrine, but some traditionalists fear that the synod is sowing confusion about the ideals of the Catholic faith.

The Pope has called for a more understanding attitude on sexual issues.

Analysis: David Willey, BBC News, Rome

There's the text and then there's the subtext. The official subject under discussion at the crucial three-week meeting of cardinals and bishops from around the world, chaired by Pope Francis, is how to ensure Catholic families heed Church teaching.

The ban on contraception, for example, is now honoured more in its breach than in its observance.

But the sudden revelation by a Polish monsignor that he is gay, has a lover, and is apparently a member of a long-rumoured, but never formally acknowledged "gay lobby" at the heart of the Catholic Church risks skewing the smooth running of a long-anticipated event.

The subtext is whether the Church should relax its traditional hostility to same-sex partnerships and marriages in an age when even the Pope retorts: "Who am I to judge?"

After his election in 2013, Pope Francis reaffirmed the Roman Catholic Church's position that homosexual acts were sinful, but said homosexual orientation was not.

"If a person is gay and seeks God and has good will, who am I to judge?" he said.

The issue of homosexuality was also highlighted during the Pope's visit to the US last week.

He had a private meeting with a gay former student of his and his boyfriend at the Vatican mission in Washington.

The Pope also met Kim Davis, a Kentucky local official who recently gained attention for refusing to issue marriage licences to same-sex couples.

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