The Instrumentum laboris of the next synod will focus on "Pastoral Challenges of the Family in the Context of Evangelisation". In difficult situations, such as with people who are divorced and remarried, the doctrine of the Church is not in discussion; instead, the issue is how to accompany people and help them live their situation with the grace of Christ.

Vatican City (AsiaNews) - Individualism and practical subjectivism, which are widely accepted today by all social groups, tend to refuse institutions once widely shared, like marriage and family. Yet, despite this refusal and the situations of crisis connected to it - like common law couples, separated and divorced couples, remarried divorcees and their children, single mothers, people in canonically irregular circumstances, non-believers or non-practicing people who want a Catholic marriage, same-sex union - the fact that so "many people, especially young people, perceive the value of stable and enduring bond, and express a real desire for marriage and family to fulfill a faithful and indissoluble love" is a "sign of the times".

In this context and in view of the prevailing circumstances, the Church plans to look at the Gospel of the family so as to propose a more deeply examined pastoral ministry for the family in order to meet the new challenges, and the generative and educational relationship between parents and children.

All these issues are covered in the Instrumentum laboris (working paper) of the Third Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on "Pastoral Challenges of the Family in the Context of Evangelisation," which is scheduled for 5-19 October this year.

Released today, the paper is the result of surveys collected by the bishops of the world, said Card Lorenzo Baldisseri, secretary general of the Synod. "It provides an overview of the family in today's context, and represents the beginning of a deep reflection whose development will unfold in two stages - the Extraordinary General Assembly (2014) and the Ordinary General Assembly (2015) - closely related by the issue of the family as seen through the Gospel of Christ. the results of the First Extraordinary General Meeting will go into preparing the Instrumentum Laboris of the Ordinary General Assembly that will follow. After that, a final document will be released, subject to the decisions of the Holy Father."

In view of the "pastoral challenges of the family," which is the focus of the second part, the paper suggest the Church should be "proposing, not imposing; guiding, not pushing; inviting, not driving away, thought-provoking, never disappointing" (n. 109).

"Pastoral charity impels the Church to assist people who have suffered the breakdown of their marriage and are living with their situation relying on the grace of Christ. A more painful wound results when these people remarry and enter a state of life which does not allow them to receive Holy Communion. Clearly, in these cases, the Church must not assume an attitude of a judge who condemns (cf. Pope Francis, Homily, 28 February 2014), but that of a mother who always receives her children and nurses their wounds so they may heal (cf. GE, 139-141). With great mercy, the Church is called to find forms of "accompaniment" which can support her children on the path of reconciliation. With patience and understanding, she must explain to these people that their not being able to celebrate the sacraments does not mean that they are excluded from the Christian life and a relationship with God (n.103)."

What is more, even if "There are absolutely no grounds for considering homosexual unions to be in any way similar or even remotely analogous to God's plan for marriage and family. [. . .] Nonetheless, according to the teaching of the Church, men and women with homosexual tendencies 'must be accepted with respect, compassion and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided' (n. 110)." For them, the principle of open doors applies as well.

"At the same time, the observations show that there is still no consensus in the Church on the specific way of receiving persons in these unions (n. 119)." In addition, "Sex education in families and educational institutions is an increasingly urgent challenge, especially in countries where the State tends to propose in schools a one-sided view and a gender ideology (n.119)."

For Pope Francis, the next Synod Assembly will "eminently pastoral in character," said Theologian and special assembly secretary Mgr Bruno Forte. In recent years, various magisterial statements have repeatedly reiterated the fact that Church doctrine is not being called in question.

"The pope's focus is on its pastoral applications, on how to propose the doctrine, how to implement it and make it more acceptable, showing clearly its humanising potential in the face of a widespread lack of knowledge or misunderstanding (cf. n. 17-19). The emphasis is on how the Church's pastoral action vis-à-vis people in difficult or irregular family situations should reflect the merciful gaze of the celestial Father who looks after and loves each one of his children."

Therefore, "Real pastoral attention is urgently needed to care for these [suffering] people and bring them healing so that they might continue their journey with the entire ecclesial community' (n. 80). All this has nothing to do with the trite slogan about 'Catholic divorce', which some people have mentioned in relation to what the Synod might propose."

Above and beyond such difficult situations, the paper, which in the first part focuses on the Gospel of the family, also "looks at God's design, biblical knowledge and magisterium, and their reception, about natural law and Christ's vocation as a person," Card Baldisseri said. "Unfamiliarity with Church teachings calls for greater emphasis be placed on the preparation of pastoral care workers to promote understanding among the faithful in different cultural and social contexts."

Finally, the third and last part concerns "the generative and educational relationship between parents children", which touches the issues of the falling birth rate, the value of life and the so-called "educational challenge." In fact, "In some parts of the world," Mgr Forte noted, "a contraceptive mentality and the diffusion of an individualistic anthropological model are causing a sharp decline in population whose social and human consequences are not being adequately taken into account. Policies leading to a decline in the birth rate are having an effect on the quality of marital relationships and relationships between generations."

"Therefore, in her pastoral programmes, the Church needs to reflect on how to encourage a mentality which is more open to life" (n. 130). The future of humanity depends on how it deals with this challenge. The commitment of the Christian community in this area is ever more important as it provides an essential service to the cause of mankind and its destiny. (FP)

 

• vatican
• pope
• francis
• synod
• family