Townsville’s Catholic Bishop Michael Putney says he finds a great deal of sympathy within the local church on the issue of same sex marriage.

“There’s no family that doesn’t have gay members.

“There’s no circle of friends that we have that doesn’t contain gay people and this is true of bishops, priests and every catholic. And they must know that we love and accept them.”

Pope Francis has sent out a survey about modern families to bishops around the world asking for ways the church can better care for gay couples, adopted children and divorcees.

Bishop Michael says he will be sending the survey to local parishes and will return the results to the Vatican by mid December.

Listen to Bishop Michael discussing the survey and Pope Francis’s request.

Publication: 612 ABC Brisbane
Author: Paula Tapiolas
Date: 7 November 2013