Vatican rolls back welcome to gays in changed statement text

The Vatican has released a new English version of a draft report on attitudes to homosexuals that significantly diminishes the welcoming tone of the Italian original, a new twist in the contentious debate over the Catholic Church’s groundbreaking overture to gays.

The initial report, prepared after a week of discussions at an assembly of 200 bishops, had been highly criticized by many conservative figures within the Catholic Church, primarily because of the warm tone extended to gays.

The original text contained an entire section titled "Welcoming homosexuals," which asked the church to provide gays a "fraternal space" and said their unions constitute a "precious support" for the partners.

The new English version, titled instead "Providing for homosexual persons," speaks only of "fellowship" and "valuable support."

The Vatican said English-speaking bishops had requested the changes.

Francis DeBernardo of the New Ways Ministry, a leading U.S. Catholic gay rights group, said the new development was a "mixed bag."

"It would have been nicer if they kept the earlier version, but the fact that we’re still speaking of 'valuable support' is positive," DeBernardo told Al Jazeera.

He said the language showed a general attempt by the bishops to be more accommodating to gay people and that this was only the beginning of a process to accept homosexuals.

The Vatican document was the basis for discussion at the two-week bishops' assembly, known as a synod. It will serve for further reflection among Catholics of another, definitive synod to be held next year.

John Smeaton, a co-founder of the conservative group Voice of the Family, had earlier called the document "one of the worst official documents drafted in Church history."

"Those who are controlling the synod have betrayed Catholic parents worldwide,” he said.

Al Jazeera and wire services