There are many reasons why church authorities are reluctant to change official teaching or to allow dissent. (religion-online.org)
There is always room to discuss what official teachings mean, and in that discussion remarkable developments can occur. (religion-online.org)
In addition to clashes over liberation theology, Vatican authorities have continued to uphold official teaching on sexual ethics in general (as in a 1986 statement on homosexuality by Cardinal Ratzinger) and have withstood calls even for an open discussion of women's ordination or of ending celibacy as a requirement for the priesthood. (religion-online.org)