In a Church document released ahead of a Synod of Bishops to be held in Rome in October, the Vatican said Thursday that the Church must be less judgmental towards gays and lesbians, emphasizing that children of gay unions should be received with equal dignity.

The document entitled "Instrumentum Laboris" or "The Pastoral Challenges of the Family in the Context of Evangelization" underscores the wide gap between official Church teachings on sexual morality and how the global laity receive and understand these teachings.

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"There are absolutely no grounds for considering homosexual unions to be in any way similar to God's plan for marriage and family," according to "Instrumentum Laboris," reiterating the Church's opposition towards the increasing legalization of same-sex unions.

The document, however, outlines a more inclusive approach towards gays and lesbians reflective of the pope's famous statement made aboard the papal airplane after last year's World Youth Day.

"If someone is gay and he searches for the Lord and has good will, who am I to judge? We shouldn't marginalize people for this. They must be integrated into society," according to the pope, indicating a significant shift in the Church's approach towards the historically marginalized groups.

The 75-page document summarized the results of a worldwide survey sent to 114 bishops conferences last year. It shall serve as the working document in discussing issues facing the family for the upcoming Synod.

Although not exactly an attempt at overhauling the Church's traditional teachings on thorny issues like homosexuality and gay unions, the document cites new pastoral guidelines that will "maintain the proper balance between accepting persons in a spirit of compassion and gradually guiding them to authentic human and Christian maturity."

TagsPope Francis, Instrumentum Laboris, gays, lesbians, gay unions, Church, Catholic Church