Pope Francis has urged Catholic bishops at an extraordinary synod on family issues to speak frankly and without fear.<br /><br />The global gathering of some 200 bishops at the Vatican will discuss sensitive subjects like divorce and contraception.<br /><br />Progressive and conservative church leaders have waged a sometimes bitter public battle on such topics.<br /><br />And over the next two weeks, the pope is encouraging participants to allow each others views to be heard.<br /><br />“Don’t tell anyone: ‘You can’t say that’,” he declared.<br /><br />“You must talk about everything you know, in a spirit of freedom of speech. The presence of the pope is a guarantee for all and a safeguard of the faith.”<br /><br />Debate on family issues has intensified after a worldwide survey showed that many Catholics ignored church teachings on birth control, sex before marriage and acceptance of homosexuality.
