ROCKFORD—Bishop David Malloy met with the Diocesan Pastoral Council, March 7, at the Diocesan Administration Center, here.

He addressed the 46-question survey sent to the world’s Catholic bishops’ conferences on a range of topics, including matters of marriage, family and sexuality.

The questions are being addressed around the world in preparation for a Synod to be held Oct. 4-25 in Rome.

Bishops’ conferences are being asked to consult with “academic institutions, organizations, lay movements and other ecclesial associations” in preparing their responses.

Along with consultation with the DPC, Bishop Malloy has also asked the seven deaneries of the diocese to respond to the questions, and invited responses from Catholics through the diocesan website.

Bishop Malloy will now forward the diocesan response to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. The U.S. responses will then be sent to the Vatican by the April 15 deadline.

The bishops’ responses will serve as the basis for the synod’s working document, to be published by summer.

The responses, along with the final report of the 2014 assembly, will comprise a preparatory document, known as a lineamenta, for this fall’s synod, which will have the theme: “The vocation and mission of the family in the church and the modern world.”