Vatican document urges merciful approach to gays

The Vatican has a new message for the gay community.

A week of meetings of 200 bishops has led to a document that urges the church to be more merciful to gays.

The document says the church should challenge itself to find "a fraternal space" for gay people without compromising Catholic doctrine on family and matrimony.

In New York, Allison Steinberg of the Empire State Pride Agenda says the news gives her hope.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) ALLISON STEINBERG, EMPIRE STATE PRIDE AGENDA COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR, SAYING:

"LGBT equality is not a sprint, it's a marathon. Maybe we're at the halfway point, so we have a long way to go, but this is absolutely a step in the right direction."

While Roman Catholic gay rights groups are calling the shift a breakthrough, church conservatives say it's a betrayal of traditional family values.

At St. Patrick's Cathedral, churchgoers seem receptive to the new tone.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) JOHN BOWDEN, CATHOLIC CHURCH-