ROME
The Salt Lake Tribune
By ROSIE SCAMMELL Religion News Service
Vatican City • Bishops participating in the Vatican’s synod on the family have admitted that they don’t know much about sex — and that they need the help of laypeople to fully understand marital intimacy.
Laypeople play an important part in the discussions at their synod on the family, the Rev. Thomas Rosica, English-language assistant to the Vatican press office, said Friday.
“At the heart of the synod is human sexuality. And oftentimes it’s muted and we don’t know how to talk about it, because most of us in the room are male celibates,” he said, citing comments of unnamed bishops.
Fourteen married couples and other laypeople have been brought in to fill in the gaps in the churchmen’s knowledge, advising the 270 bishops as they discuss family issues.
The Rev. Federico Lombardi, the Vatican’s chief spokesman, cited bishops who said it is essential to grasp “the importance of sexuality in spouses’ lives.”
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.