Controversial cardinal calls for ‘liberal’ Church

A controversial cardinal, who has been tipped by some as a possible successor to the Pope, has called on the Catholic Church to be more understanding of divorce and same-sex marriage.

Cardinal Christoph Schonborn, who is archbishop of Vienna and the son of divorced parents, is to give a keynote speech at a conference on the family at Mary Immaculate College, Limerick, tomorrow.

Speaking ahead of the conference, Cardinal Schonborn said the Church must listen to couples in all relationships in a way it has not done before.