Top Vatican Cardinal Wants Family Speeches Public

VATICAN CITY -- The Vatican's doctrine czar has said the Holy See should publish the speeches by bishops from around the world about family problems, marriage, divorce, gays and sex.

Breaking with tradition, the Vatican decided to withhold printed summaries of bishops' remarks to the two-week synod of bishops. Officials said the aim was to encourage freer debate, but the change prompted protests by journalists shut out of the proceedings.

Cardinal Gerhard Mueller told one of the two Catholic TV broadcasters allowed inside the synod hall that the speeches should be made public. He said "All Christians have the right to be informed about the intervention of their bishops."

Vatican spokesmen have staged daily briefings summarizing the debate, but without saying who said what.