Synod: Different opinions in Working Groups, but also agreement on need for pastoral care for families
Vatican City (AsiaNews) - The Synod dedicated to the family in the context of evangelization, is focusing its attention on the problems that families face today, from "the beauty of marriage", to the situations of the divorced and same sex unions which effect all continents and not just Europe.
The Synod, according to Fr. Federico Lombardi, the Holy See Press Office director, is now at its "most interactive stage" of work. The Working Groups, divided into linguistic regions, are in fact preparing amendments and modifications of the Relatio post disceptationem, the report after discussions. The groups will present their reports, which will be made public tomorrow. These in turn will contribute to the Synod's final report, which will act as a basis for discussion in next years' Ordinary Synod.
The discussions underway in the Working Groups was at the center of today's briefing in which Father Lombardi was joined by Msgr. Joseph Kurtz, President of the Episcopal Conference of the United States, a representative of the English Language Group, Card. Lluís Martínez Sistach moderator in one of the Spanish language groups and Monsignor Fisichella, from the Italian language group.
The journalists' questions focused on ongoing debate among members of the Synodal Assembly, and in particular the different points of view on the report. "The real problem would be if there were no debate at the Synod", said about Msgr. Fisichella. "There has been 'disputatio' - confirmed Cardinal Martinez Sistach - there are different opinions, we saw different trends, different sensibilities, different contributions".
Going into greater detail, the Cardinal from Barcelona argued that "the Synod has recognized the great need for pastoral care of the family. The Church can do a lot for couples in crisis, helping couples who are struggling to support them on a path of reconciliation. We must do more in this area". "We must do more," echoed Msgr. Kurtz. "There are couples who do everything to make things work. Even the current Synod needs pay greater attention to this. There are people who strive to witness to their faith in the family."
The "great debate" following the report was spoke also the topic of an interview given by the General Rapporteur, Cardinal Peter Erdo to Vatican Radio. He said that "this text represents an intermediate stage of the work of the synod, is not the result of the whole Synod". The cardinal added that, in his view, "the document contains at least the main themes of the discussion. Certainly everyone can say that some point of view or some element is still missing: but it is precisely for this reason that the linguistic groups, the Working Groups are now working to prepare their textual proposals to change, to add, to improve ... ". "I think - he concluded - that the interest of the world media is such that, perhaps, more was rend into the contents of certain paragraphs than what was actually said. This is why during this week we arrive at even greater clarity, that will leave no room for ambiguity in the individual chapters. And this is also because the faithful need a clear voice, encouragement, a clear teaching and guidance so they will be able to discuss these issues later in their own dioceses, in their particular Churches. So we hope that the final text will be a clear and satisfactory text for everybody".
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