“Our continuing participation could result in me advocating for two different, and even contradictory, positions,” Bishop Deeley wrote.

“I saw someone who was caring for someone, not worrying about if we are gay, straight, brown, white.”

The Vatican declined to confirm or deny the remarks in keeping with its policy not to comment on the pope's private conversations.

Archbishop Matteo Zuppi of Bologna calls Father James Martin’s book ‘Building a Bridge’ ‘useful for encouraging dialogue, as well as reciprocal knowledge and understanding.’

At issue is a long-standing practice of CSS not to perform evaluations of the homes of same-sex couples wishing to care for foster children.

The episode is the latest in a years-long struggle for Catholic colleges to balance support for diverse student populations while adhering to church teaching.