Catholic leaders wrap up a three-week-long Synod of Bishops, the first presided over by Pope Benedict XVI. Some new topics arose, but the conference ended with no major policy changes.
DEBBIE ELLIOTT, host: This is ALL THINGS CONSIDERED from NPR News.  I'm Debbie Elliott.</s>DEBBIE ELLIOTT, host: With a Mass today at the Vatican, Pope Benedict XVI brought a formal      close to a three-week-long bishops meeting.  In this first synod of      Benedict's young papacy, the bishops approved 50 propositions that fully      embraced the church's traditional teachings.  NPR's Sylvia Poggioli      reports from Rome.</s>SYLVIA POGGIOLI reporting: The synod's official topic was the Eucharist, or Holy Communion, which      Catholics believe is the body and blood of Christ.  The sacrament can be      given only by a priest.  It was Third World bishops who opened a frank      debate on the worldwide shortage of priests.  Discussion included the      possibility of ordaining older, married men of proven virtue, but the      final document said allowing married men into the priesthood was a road      not to follow.  Australian Cardinal George Pell told a closing press      conference there was considerable consensus on this point.</s>Cardinal GEORGE PELL (Australia): And I think it is also significant      that there has been a massive restatement of the importance of the      tradition in the Latin church of mandatory celibacy for the priests.</s>POGGIOLI: The bishops also upheld the ban on allowing divorced and      remarried Catholics to receive Communion, as well as the ban on      inter-Communion with Protestants.  With regard to Communion for Catholic      politicians who back legislation allowing gay marriage or abortion, the      synod decided to leave the decision up to local bishops.  They were      instructed to exercise the virtues of firmness and prudence.</s>POGGIOLI: The synod included the novelty of an open-floor discussion at the end of      each daily session.  While no new doctrines were proposed at the synod,      Gerard O'Connell, a Catholic author and veteran Vatican watcher, says in      terms of process, the pope broke new ground.</s>POGGIOLI: Mr. GERARD O'CONNELL (Author):  He's removed the idea of that taboo      subject. Under John Paul II, there were taboo subjects--for example, the      question of ordaining married men.  So the fact that the pope has allowed      them to talk so freely and to allow any subject to be tabled was      certainly progress.</s>Sister CHRISTINE SCHENK: So in some sense, I feel like, `Yes, it's good;      we started the conversation.'  But it's very bad because we started it      and put our heads in the sand.</s>POGGIOLI: Sister Christine Schenk represents two American Catholic      groups, Future Church and Call to Action.</s>Sister CHRISTINE SCHENK: What was most distressing to me were the remarks from      bishops in the synod.  `Oh, no!  We can't have married priests!  My gosh!      They have families; they have children.  It will be harder to transfer      them.'  And first of all, I wanted to say, `Earth to bishops, you know,      the church is made up of families, number one.  And we can only benefit      from having priests who understand the family experience.'</s>POGGIOLI: Sister Schenk says the priest shortage issue is so serious      that in the foreseeable future, more than half of US parishes will not      have their own priest.</s>Pope BENEDICT XVI: (Singing in Latin)</s>POGGIOLI: But in today's closing Mass in St. Peter's Square, Benedict      once again rejected suggestions that the solution to the shortage is      ordaining married men.</s>Pope BENEDICT XVI: (Italian spoken)</s>POGGIOLI: He said, `The celibacy that priests received as a precious      gift and a sign of undivided love toward God and neighbor is founded upon      the Eucharistic mystery celebrated and adored.  And lay Catholics have to      show their faith clearly.'  Benedict said, `No dichotomy is admissible      between faith and life.'</s>POGGIOLI: Sylvia Poggioli, NPR News, Rome.