Catholic bishops in the Vatican, Italy, have expressed their progressive attitude towards unmarried couples living together, homosexuals and divorces,.

The two-week meeting of bishops on family issues arrived at its half-way point today with unexpected topics of discussion. During the closed debate, such issues as homosexual relationships, divorces, civil weddings and even cohabitation were discussed.

However, no specific decision concerning these issues was announced. The bishops said homosexuals had ‘gifts and qualities’ to offer and asked if the church was ready to provide them a place ‘accepting and valuing their sexual orientation without compromising Catholic doctrine on the family and matrimony.’

The bishops also expressed their readiness to change their minds on civil weddings and even cohabitation, with the aim of helping the couple commit eventually to a church wedding. Besides, they said that a couples’ decision on the use of contraception should be respected.

The summit  has been described as a ‘step in the right direction’ by activists and boasts all the hallmarks of the notably progressive attitudes the Catholic Church has adopted since the ascension of Pope Francis last year.