From Vatican Insider
(©LAPRESSE) THE SYNOD ON THE FAMILY
Today the ten language groups presented amendments and additions to the working document published earlier this week. The debate over communion for remarried divorcees has begun in view of the 2015 Synod meeting. Bishops are exercising caution with regard to same-sex unions
IACOPO SCARAMUZZIVATICAN
CITY
The need to present positive Christian family models. The Gospel of the Family. But also the Church’s promise of mercy for families in irregular situations. These were the recurring themes of the speeches delivered at the Extraordinary Synod on the Family (5-19 October) in the VATICAN today. The topics were presented by the ten circuli minores, the different language groups the bishops have been split into (3 Italian groups, three English Groups, two Spanish and two French groups) and the contributions published by the VATICAN. These are amendments to the relatio post disceptationem, the document which summarised the first week of discussions and will be voted on on Saturday afternoon. After this, the final document, the relatio synodi, will be published. The debate focused on two areas in particular: communion for remarried divorcees, which remains an open question and same-sex couples. Some groups urged CAUTION regarding the openness the relatio post disceptationem showed towards such couples.
today. The topics were presented by the ten circuli minores, the different language groups the bishops have been split into (3 Italian groups, three English Groups, two Spanish and two French groups) and the contributions published by the VATICAN. These are amendments to the relatio post disceptationem, the document which summarised the first week of discussions and will be voted on on Saturday afternoon. After this, the final document, the relatio synodi, will be published. The debate focused on two areas in particular: communion for remarried divorcees, which remains an open question and same-sex couples. Some groups urged CAUTION regarding the openness the relatio post disceptationem showed towards such couples.
“While some Synod Fathers say: ‘Be careful, we should not forget about the doctrine’, there is also a need for accompaniment in certain situations, hence the Pope’s references to [the Church as] a field hospital,” the Archbishop of Vienna, Cardinal Christoph Schönborn – who spoke in today’s briefing – said. “In families it often happens that the mother says ‘it’s too dangerous’, while the father says ‘no, don’t be scared’. We are all part of a big family.”
Today’s was an open, collegial and “heated” debate, where disagreements did come to the fore. But the discussions don’t end here. This is just the first phase of a Synodal process which will come to a temporary end this coming Sunday with the beatification of Paul VI and will continue in October 2015, when the Ordinary Synod is to take place.
This morning’s speeches were varied in terms of STYLE, detail and subject. They underlined that the relatio post disceptationem, which some would rather had not been published, focuses on the concerns of families facing crises but fails to refer more broadly to the positive MESSAGE contained in the Gospel of the Family, to the fact that marriage, as a sacrament and the indissoluble union between man and woman, is a value that still exists today and which many couples still believe in.
, detail and subject. They underlined that the relatio post disceptationem, which some would rather had not been published, focuses on the concerns of families facing crises but fails to refer more broadly to the positive MESSAGE contained in the Gospel of the Family, to the fact that marriage, as a sacrament and the indissoluble union between man and woman, is a value that still exists today and which many couples still believe in.
Regarding the subject of “difficult family situations”, the possibility of allowing remarried divorcees to take communion after a period of penance – a solution inspired by the Orthodox Church – “requires careful thought, no conflicting views and a common, SHARED solution,” one of the Italian groups said. Another Italian group suggested using John Paul II’s Familiaris consortio as a reference point. In the third Italian group a majority voted in favour of a proposal that would give remarried divorcees access to the Eucharist “in certain conditions and in particular moments of Church and family life”. Meanwhile, some fathers believe the current rules are binding. The first English group states very frankly: “We did not recommend the admission to the sacraments of divorced and re-married people.” The second English group 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.” The third English group simply reiterates the Church’s traditional doctrine with REGARD to this subject. The first Spanish group praised those who abstained from remarrying, describing them as “heroic witnesses of indissolubility and faithfulness”. The second group made a general reference to the ordinary Synod in 2015. The first French group said the rules should not change. In the second group “some fathers” argued in favour of the rules currently in force, while “others” called for remarried divorcees to be admitted to communion.
solution,” one of the Italian groups said. Another Italian group suggested using John Paul II’s Familiaris consortio as a reference point. In the third Italian group a majority voted in favour of a proposal that would give remarried divorcees access to the Eucharist “in certain conditions and in particular moments of Church and family life”. Meanwhile, some fathers believe the current rules are binding. The first English group states very frankly: “We did not recommend the admission to the sacraments of divorced and re-married people.” The second English group 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.” The third English group simply reiterates the Church’s traditional doctrine with REGARD to this subject. The first Spanish group praised those who abstained from remarrying, describing them as “heroic witnesses of indissolubility and faithfulness”. The second group made a general reference to the ordinary Synod in 2015. The first French group said the rules should not change. In the second group “some fathers” argued in favour of the rules currently in force, while “others” called for remarried divorcees to be admitted to communion.
Bishops are exercising caution when it comes to the Church’s position on homosexuality. The first Italian group, for example, emphasized the Church’s “CLOSENESS” as an “open house”, reiterating, however, that gay unions cannot be equated to marriage. They also expressed their “concern” for “children’s rights”. One English group said that “within the Church, they should find a HOME,” along “with everyone else”. while another group said that the Church should not give the “impression that all unions are equal”. One of the Spanish groups stated that the Church must not speak about “homosexuality almost as if it were part of a person’s ontological being”. One of the French groups underlined that “offering pastoral accompaniment to a person does not mean advocating a particular form of sexuality or a particular lifestyle.”
” as an “open house”, reiterating, however, that gay unions cannot be equated to marriage. They also expressed their “concern” for “children’s rights”. One English group said that “within the Church, they should find a HOME,” along “with everyone else”. while another group said that the Church should not give the “impression that all unions are equal”. One of the Spanish groups stated that the Church must not speak about “homosexuality almost as if it were part of a person’s ontological being”. One of the French groups underlined that “offering pastoral accompaniment to a person does not mean advocating a particular form of sexuality or a particular lifestyle.”
The English translation of the relatio post disceptationem was altered slightly: “Welcoming” homosexuals was changed to a more neutral “providing for”, while there is no longer any reference to “fraternal space” for homosexuals, and “valuable support” within gay unions has now been changed to “precious support”. The Italian version of the summary document is still the official one.
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