Synodality and the Changing Face of Family: A Controversial Pastoral Shift
A Bold Exploration of Love Redefines Catholic Conversation in Italy
A recent initiative by the Diocese of Chiavari in Italy has sparked widespread discussion by presenting a broader, more inclusive perspective on family life. Through a new pastoral brochure titled There Is No Greater Love, the Diocesan Office for Family Pastoral Ministry highlights real-life stories from a wide spectrum of relationships—including same-sex couples, divorced individuals, and civilly remarried partners—regardless of their religious background or marital status.
Diocese of Chiavari Features Diverse Relationships
Led by Don Marco Torre, the publication is part of a growing movement within the Church that aims to welcome those who often feel marginalized. Intentionally moving beyond the Church’s traditional family models, the brochure includes stories that challenge conventional norms—focusing on the authenticity, compassion, and emotional depth found in various forms of love.
According to its creators, the initiative is not about debating doctrine but offering pastoral closeness to those who have been left at the margins. The outreach includes members of the LGBTQ+ community and those in so-called “irregular” relationships, giving voice to those whose faith journeys rarely fit into mainstream Church narratives.
Mixed Reactions to a More Inclusive Vision
The document has drawn both praise and sharp criticism. Supporters see it as a necessary step toward greater inclusion and pastoral care, while critics argue that it risks undermining the Church’s moral teachings. Conservative media outlets, such as La Nuova Bussola Quotidiana (LNBQ), have labeled the initiative a symptom of doctrinal confusion. They warn that expanding the concept of family could weaken the theological foundation of Catholic marriage.
Testimonies from the Margins: Same-Sex and Remarried Couples Speak Out
Among those featured are Marco and Michele, a same-sex couple who have experienced renewed spiritual growth through their open presence in their parish. As members of the group Amore in cammino (“Love on the Journey”), they emphasize their commitment to building community and bridging divides by sharing their testimony of inclusion and love.
Also highlighted is Gianluca, who is in a relationship with a non-practicing man. He describes how their partnership, although not fitting traditional models, has deepened his own faith and understanding of compassion and coexistence.
Grounded in Amoris Laetitia: A New Language of Accompaniment
Some of the brochure’s contributors reference Pope Francis’s apostolic exhortation, Amoris Laetitia, to explain their desire for integration into Church life. Alessandra and Luca, a divorced and civilly remarried couple, cite paragraph 297: “Everyone should be helped to find their own way of participating in the ecclesial community.”
They acknowledge the challenges their situation poses in light of Church doctrine, but argue that their relationship is rooted in sincerity, spiritual growth, and a desire for communion with God. For them, love and faith can coexist in new, meaningful ways that deserve recognition within the Church.
Bishop’s Silence and Connections with LGBTQ+ Pastoral Outreach
Bishop Giampio Devasini of Chiavari has so far refrained from commenting publicly on the brochure. This silence has been interpreted by some as quiet approval of the initiative. The diocese’s recent history of working with La Tenda di Gionata—an organization focused on pastoral care for LGBTQ+ believers—has added further weight to that perception.
Criticism from Traditionalist Catholic Circles
Not everyone is supportive of the diocese’s approach. Conservative commentators argue that the Church’s core teachings on marriage and sexuality are being blurred. Outlets like La Nuova Bussola Quotidiana accuse the pastoral office of transforming Church documents into tools for social experimentation, eroding the concept of family as traditionally defined.
Their main concern is that this form of pastoral inclusion is not merely compassionate outreach—but part of a broader strategy to normalize same-sex unions within the Church. Efforts like prayer vigils against homophobia are seen by such critics as incremental steps toward integrating homosexuality into Catholic life in ways they deem incompatible with Christian doctrine.
A Church at the Crossroads: Between Doctrine and Compassion
The brochure from the Diocese of Chiavari highlights a deepening conversation within contemporary Catholicism—a tension between adherence to longstanding doctrine and the call for a more inclusive, pastoral approach. As stories from same-sex and non-traditional couples gain visibility, the Church is pressed to reexamine how it balances truth with mercy, orthodoxy with accompaniment.
Whether seen as a pioneering step or a theological misstep, the initiative rekindles an urgent question for Catholics today: can love in all its diversity find a place within the heart of the Church?
