L.A. Diocese Sponsoring Three-Day Conference : Convention: Cardinal Mahony is among the 20,000 expected to attend session. The theme is ‘Compassion Poured Out.’

In what is being called the largest religious education conference in the world, an estimated 20,000 delegates are expected to attend a three-day congress this weekend in Anaheim sponsored by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles.

Cardinal Roger M. Mahony, the Los Angeles archbishop, and more than 100 priests and bishops are scheduled to participate in the conference, whose theme is “Compassion Poured Out.”

Bishop Raymond Lucker of New Ulm, Minn., and Bishop Julio Labayen from the Philippines are scheduled to speak. Author and actress Maya Angelou will be the keynote speaker this morning.

About 225 workshops addressing religious, educational and leadership issues are planned. Workshop topics include family life and reconciliation, spirituality in a pluralistic culture, drug and alcohol abuse, health and wellness, youth ministry and the impact of the media on values and ethics.

Other sessions will explore such issues as homosexuality and the church, and women in the church.

Both topics occupied the attention of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops at their November meeting in Washington.

Last week, Mahony said in an interview with The Times that he believes gays could serve in a variety of areas in the military. But in offering limited support for gays in uniform, Mahony also said there may be other areas, such as on submarines or other close living quarters, where the presence of gays would be ill-advised in view of military leaders’ concerns.

In keeping with Catholic teaching, Mahony said that a homosexual orientation in itself is not sinful. But he said any sex outside the bounds of heterosexual marriage or sex in a heterosexual marriage in which artificial birth control is used is sinful.

The conference, which is being held at the Anaheim Convention Center, began Friday and ends Sunday with a 5:15 p.m Eucharist. Registration at the door is available.