Card
Kasper: Synod to model Pope's "listening magisterium"
(Vatican Radio) The first Synod of Bishops of Pope Francis'
pontificate, which opens here in the Vatican on Sunday, will model a more open
and vibrant discussion on family matters that reflects the practical realities
of men and women around the world today. That’s the view of Cardinal Walter
Kasper, who was asked by the Pope to open the discussion through a speech to
the world’s cardinals at a consistory last February. Entitled ‘the Gospel of
Life,’ that speech caused controversy by raising the possibility of changes to
pastoral practice, including allowing some people in second marriages to be
able to receive Holy Communion.
Cardinal Kasper, who formerly headed the Pontifical Council for
Christian Unity, compares the heated debate prior to the Synod with the
atmosphere in the Church ahead of the Second Vatican Council. Just as there
were sharply conflicting views ahead of the Council, the cardinal says he
believes the two year Synod process will result in “a very large consensus”
over changes in Church practices to support people facing difficulties in their
family lives.
Philippa
Hitchen sat down with Cardinal Kasper to talk to him about the Synod process
and about the Pope’s desire to listen more closely to the views of ordinary
Catholics in the pews….
Q: Pope Francis has already made changes in the way discussions
will take place, using a questionnaire to listen to a wider pool of people -
how different do you expect this synod to be?
A:
I think there’s a new style on the part of Pope Francis….he wants a listening
magisterium, so listening to people through the questionnaire beforehand, and
now he wants an open debate. There can also be a controversial debate….but I
think it doesn’t damage the Church, it helps the Church…..we had the same
during the (Second Vatican) Council and this was a positive effect…everyone has
the right to express his or her opinion (but) there will not be a war of
theologians, bishops and cardinals….A synod is a gathering of pastors of the
Church coming together for an exchange of pastoral experience, problems and
perspectives, it’s a listening gathering, listening to what the Spirit says to
the Church and in this exchange I’m convinced there will come out a large
agreement on a solution of the burning problems – but it’s not only one problem
that people think now…..we have to see the larger scale of pastoral challenges
of family life in the context of new evangelisation…
Q:
Reform of the synod process is an important part of the Pope’s agenda – yet the
list of those he appointed to take part in this Synod don’t seem to reflect the
struggles of so many families today – no divorcees, single parents - isn’t it
important for the bishops to hear their voices as well?
A:
It’s the first part of a Synodical process – then we have a whole year to
discuss the problems at local level…then the bishops, having listened to the
people, come back to the Ordinary Synod which will decide, together with the
Pope, about the pastoral solutions. So I think people are to a high degree
involved in this Synod….
Q:
The family was also the focus of the first synod that Pope John Paul called in
1980 and the two English delegates there were also calling for a re-evaluation
of the Church’s pastoral practice on contraception and divorce. It seems to
many that nothing has changed, except for more and more Catholics ignoring the
Church’s teachings?
A:
There’s a real problem and I think bishops should be honest to discuss this
gulf between the doctrine of the Church and the practise of many practisingCatholics – the Church
will not and cannot change the teachings, the doctrine, but it’s a question of
the adaption of the doctrine, which all want to remain in the truth, in complex
human situations. I think there’s a difference between doctrine and discipline,
how to apply it and this is the pastoral level….Christian life is a pilgrimage
and so we have to accompany people on their way…..we have to start where people
are now, listening to their problems and that’s also the new style of Pope
Francis…
Q:
Was Pope Paul VI wrong not to listen to the majority of lay couples on the
commission discussing contraception back in the 1960s?
A:
I have a high esteem for Paul VI, he was a prophetic pope in a very difficult
situation of the church after 1968 and so on. He was concerned to remain in the
truth and not give up something, but I think it’s also a question of the interpretation
of this encyclical Humanae Vitae because he was the
first pope who spoke in ‘personalistic’ terminology about marriage – it was
new! So in the light of this general approach we have to interpret what he said
about contraception and so on, and I think what he said is true, but it’s not a
casuistic we can deduce from it, it’s an ideal and we have to tell people, but
then we have also to respect the conscience of the couples.
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