The following comes from a Jan. 28 story in Catholic San Francisco.

The Archdiocese of San Francisco is planning to survey parishioners to gauge the sense of the faithful on matters that a global bishops’ gathering under Pope Francis will discuss this October on the theme “The Vocation of and Mission of the Family and Church in the Contemporary World.”

The plan calls for offering an easy-to-use questionnaire to pastors as a means for them to consult widely with their parishioners. The form, modeled on one the archdiocese of Los Angeles is using for the purpose, would include questions to gather objective data and a space to write in comments.

Alternately, pastors could use the lengthy questionnaire sent to the world’s bishops by the secretary of the Oct. 4-25 Rome gathering, which is called the XIV Ordinary Synod of Bishops. Complex and assuming theological expertise, the Rome questionnaire is not suitable for wide distribution but may be helpful in pastors’ consultations with smaller groups.

Either way, the data collected would go to Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone for his summary report to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, which is due from all bishops March 20 and will be forwarded to Rome along with an executive summary by conference president Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz….