Vatican Road Map for Fall Meeting on Families Features Roadblocks, Too

Vatican officials on June 23 released a document on family values — a precursor to a major meeting in October — that underscores the ongoing tension between Pope Francis’ desire for a more “welcoming” church and the need to hew to long-standing tradition and doctrine.

“The Christian message should be conveyed using language that generates hope,” reads the 78-page working document , which compiles the responses of Catholics around the world on issues facing modern families.