Why the New Document From the Italian Bishops Is a Warning Sign

The participants in the last Italian synodal assembly have overwhelmingly approved a document that explicitly encourages support in civil LGBT events, such as the Gay Pride marches. The text also alludes to the possibility of female access to the diaconate and signals a broader openness to progressive social causes. Though presented as a pastoral initiative, this move reflects a deeper realignment within the Italian episcopate—a shift that mirrors wider European trends toward ecclesial reconciliation with secular liberalism. While technically not an official pronouncement of the Italian bishops, the document serves as a guiding framework for future decisions and pastoral actions within the Italian Catholic Church. The Assembly of the Italian Bishops Conference (CEI), scheduled for November 2025, will receive the document for reflection, debate, and potentially for revisions and pastoral directives. In short, it marks a significant starting point. “Once the Assembly has released the text …