Young to Vatican: Let's talk about gay and gender issues

VATCAN CITY (AP) - Young people have told the Vatican in a survey that they want the church to concretely discuss gay and gender issues.

The Vatican had solicited input from the young regardless of their religious views to help prepare for a gathering of bishops in Rome in October. The monthlong gathering will be held to better understand how to pastorally care for Catholic youths among its worldwide flock.

The Holy See on Tuesday presented the survey's findings, which included eroded credibility in the eyes of young people toward the church because of sex abuse scandals involving pedophile priests, cover-ups by hierarchy and financial scandals.

Young people in the survey said the church should "face in a concrete way controversial topics like homosexuality and gender issues," nothing that they discuss them "without taboos."