Synod Working Groups, "starting afresh from the family", accompanying and not judging, but without confusion
Vatican City (AsiaNews) - "Starting afresh from the family," placing them at the center of pastoral concerns, saying that the Christian family is composed of a man and a woman and is open to life but that also "irregular" situations are deserving of respect and especially welcome, but doing so without causing confusion, or changes in doctrine. This, in a nutshell, is the conclusion of the ten Working Groups from the Synod on the Family, presented this morning in the Hall before Pope Francis.
Firstly, many noted that Card. Erdo's Relatio post disceptationem gives more space to the concerns for families in crisis, without making a major reference to the positive message of the Gospel of the family, the fact that marriage as a sacrament, is an indissoluble union between man and woman, which is a value still very present and in which many couples believe. "You notice - the report of the Italian Circle A - a disproportion between the treatment of the Gospel of the Family and the different situations of crisis and actually extraneous to it, which does not allow you to immediately grasp the positive vision and the beauty of the family" .
The observation of the proliferation of irregular situations, writes the French Circle A, "should not make us forget the families who live with consistency and fidelity to Christian marriage". "We need - we read in the report of the English Circle A - a new introduction to the Relatio," one that places in context the great gift of the sacrament of marriage." "It 's important - says the English Circle C - that the scriptural foundation for marriage, as well as the teaching of Tradition are clear in the document from beginning to end" and "the tone of the entire document should express our confidence in marriage".
More suggestions propose that the final Report include issues such as the theme of adoption, expressing the hope that bureaucratic procedures be streamlined, both at national and international levels, and also the themes of biotechnology and the spread of culture via the internet, which may condition family life, as well as a note regarding the importance of policies in favour of the family.
With regard to difficult family situations, the Working Groups have shown that the Church should be welcoming home for all, where no one feels rejected. However, greater clarity and an avoidance of confusion, hesitation and euphemisms in the use of language was demanded: for example, the law of gradualness, lest it become gradualness of the law. The concepts of "gradualism," writes the French Circle B, "are likely to be understood as legitimizing a priori irregular, or sinful life situations". "We considered it necessary - we read in the report of the English Circle C - carefully define the meaning of the law of gradualness, which should not be construed as gradualness of the law." And the Italian Circle A states that "The expression is rather nebulous with the danger of implying that the difficulties of married life lead to a lowering of the full meaning of the marriage vocation itself. Later in the discussion the interventions of the Synod Fathers agreed almost unanimously that this part of the Report does not seem to offer an appropriate proposal about the truth of marriage. Therefore, we find it necessary to recommend to the Secretariat that this part II be rewritten".
With regard to possibility of divorced and remarried persons partaking in the sacrament of the Eucharist, two main perspectives emerged: on the one hand, it was suggested that the doctrine not be modified and to remain as it is at present; on the other, to open up the possibility of communication, with an approach based on compassion and mercy, but only under certain conditions. For example, the English Circle B "recommended the examination of possible paths of repentance and discernment by which, in particular circumstances, a divorced and remarried person might participate in the sacraments; and about providing alternatives, such as a deeper appreciation of the classical wisdom and value of spiritual communion". The English Circle A writes instead: "We did not recommend the admission to the sacraments of divorced and re-married people, but we included a very positive and much -needed appreciation of union with Christ through other means." And the Italian Circle B considers "important to arrive at a coherent and unified vision of the problem without falling into unilateral perspectives that lack the required historical and theological support. This applies both to the proposed penitential process and the close examination of the Churches Orthodox practice". And it "voted for a proposal, approved by a majority of votes, which opens this possibility in terms of a specific and defined moments in the life of the church and family, emphasizing the significance of the Eucharist as a sacrament for growth in the Christian life, while remaining firm in the doctrine on 'marital indissolubility".
Finally,
it was emphasised that, despite the impossibility of equating marriage between a
man and a woman with homosexual unions, persons of this orientation must
receive pastoral accompaniment and their dignity must be protected, without
however implying that this may indicate a form of approval, on the part of the
Church, of their orientation and way of life. Acceptance and
respect, writes about the French Circle B "does not mean that the Church
must legitimize homosexual practices, much less recognize, as do some states, a
so-called same-sex 'marriage'. Instead, we denounce all the lobbying of certain
international organizations to impose laws that establish a so-called same-sex 'marriage'
on poorer countries through financial blackmail.
Presenting a summary of the reports to press today, Cardinal Christoph
Schoenborn, Archbishop of Vienna and the moderator of one of the French language
groups, spoke of "family vision" in a process that began in February
with the Consistory, continued with the current extraordinary meeting of the
Synod, and that will continue into next year with the General Assembly of the
Synod. This is the path that Pope Francis has indicated in his goal of
"accompanying" the family in today's world, "without
judgment." .
In this regard, the director of the Vatican Press Office, Father Federico
Lombardi, said that the Secretariat presented the "modi" that is,
additions and corrections to the Relatio post disceptationem of Cardinal Erdo.
It is, Father Lombardi, a further step toward the stage of drafting and
approving the message that will hopefully take place on Saturday morning and, following
this the drafting of the Relatio synodi, a compendium of these two weeks of
work. (FP)
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