The Pope is facing the biggest revolt of his papacy as half a million Catholics, including senior cardinals and archbishops, demand that he back down over his liberal stance for gays and divorced people
The traditionalists have signed a petition “imploring” the Argentinian pontiff to use a Vatican synod in October to publicly oppose, once and for all, homosexual unions and the granting of communion to remarried divorcees.
“A word from Your Holiness is the only way to clarify the growing confusion amongst the faithful,” states the so-called Filial Appeal.
John Richie, of the American organisation TFP Student Action, which launched the petition, said: “If the enemies of the family continue to chip away at holy matrimony, the future of the family and civilisation itself will be in even more serious peril.”
The clash between the Pope and deeply conservative Catholics leaves Francis at risk of losing a huge constituency.
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While the Pope has opposed same-sex marriages, he famously said, when asked about homosexuals: “Who am I to judge?” His remark, widely welcomed by the gay community, triggered anxiety among Catholic traditionalists. The conservatives also believe that a divorced person is still married in the eyes of the church, and commits adultery if he or she remarries in a civil ceremony.
However, the Pope said this month that they were “not at all excommunicated, and they absolutely must not be treated that way”.
John Thavis, author of The Vatican Diaries, said: “These disputes reflect a wider divergence. Pope Francis wants to proclaim the Gospel as a source of joy and salvation, not as a litmus test to see if you fit in the club — which is how it was under the last two popes. The problem is that most bishops were appointed by his predecessors.”
This autumn’s synod, which will debate family issues, may determine whether the Pope’s legacy will be as one who opened up the Church, or as one who was given a bloody nose by his bishops.
The Catholic world is split down the middle. A synod was called last year after a Vatican survey found that many Catholic families were ignoring church rules on contraception and cohabitation.
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In a recent survey, 90 per cent of German Catholics approved of blessing second marriages and 70 per cent backed blessings for gay partnerships. However, discussions reportedly descended into shouting matches.
Halfway through the synod, a summary of speeches that described the “gifts and qualities” of homosexuals prompted a rebellion by conservatives and the wording was cut out.
“I don’t see the next synod being any less contentious,” said Mr Thavis, “but that is what the Pope wants — he is not afraid of debate.”
Piers Paul Read, a British Catholic writer who signed the petition, said: “I would like Francis to stop hedging and get off the fence. My mother ran off with a married man and spent her life not taking communion, but I don’t think the rules should be changed. Many Catholics feel the church’s teaching underpins the family and any loosening will lead to the further break-up of the family.”