"We must respond in a humane manner, a Christian manner, and we must try to help people, not harm them."

While the upcoming Synod of Bishops on the Amazon aims to highlight the damage wrought by climate change and exploitation, the possibility of ordaining married men to minister in remote areas of the rain forest continues to garner more attention.

While this proposal may draw most media attention, it should not be allowed to eclipse other significant aspects in the document, including the church’s strong commitment to work for justice for indigenous people and the protection of the environment.

His renunciation did not come as a total surprise given the controversy that erupted in Chile following the priest’s controversial statements after his nomination.

“It is inconceivable to be a pontifical representative and to criticize the pope behind his back, to have a blog or even to unite himself to groups hostile to him, to the [Roman] curia and to the church of Rome,” Pope Francis stated.

The Vatican’s document on “gender theory” is bound to create further conflict, writes David Cloutier of the Catholic University of America, but it exposes the confusion around the differences between nature and choice, and between respect and affirmation.