In my opinion, the Catholic bishops need to ask themselves a couple of "dubia" ... and need to come up with some convincing answers.

[1] is the homosexual orientation really an objective disorder? If so, why so?

[2] are "homosexual acts" always "intrinsically evil"? Even if between a monogamous loving couple in a same-sex (civil) marriage?

Perhaps a commission (much like the one established to examine the contraception question in the 60s) could be established to assist Pope Francis and the bishops in undergoing the necessary discernment. Such a commission should include experts (including scientists) as well as committed gay couples. A scientific consensus is emerging: http://tinyurl.com/grmhhs8 . We are about both Faith and Reason. Gaudium et Spes 62 sums it up well: "The recent studies and findings of science, history and philosophy raise new questions which effect life and which demand new theological investigations."