Synod
on the Family: Press Briefing Day 2
Pope Francis leaves the hall after the Tuesday morning session of the Synod on the Family - OSS_ROM. |
(Vatican
Radio) Fr. Federico Lombardi, S.J. opened the daily press conference by
explaining what had happened in the morning session. He said that the general
secretary of the Synod, Cardinal Baldisseri, had explained “certain processes
of the methodology” and its new elements. Lombardi said that Pope Francis also
thought it was important for him to make a contribution and so he too said a
few words.
“The
Holy Father thought it important to say that what we are doing here must be
seen as a continuation of last year,” Lombardi said. Pope Francis said that the
group work, which the Synod Fathers begins on Tuesday afternoon, is going to be
very important. The Pope reminded the Fathers that “Catholic doctrine on
marriage was not called into question in the previous sitting of the Synod” and
that “the Synod is not about one single issue – Eucharist for the divorced and
remarried – but many issues and we must take them all into account.”
Fr.
Lombardi listed different themes which arose in the contributions made during
the session. He highlighted a number of them which included the passing on of
the faith inter-generationally, migration, domestic violence, war, poverty, and
polygamy.
Basilian
Fr. Thomas Rosica, who is the English-speaking Media Attaché of the Holy See,
said the comments made by the Synod Fathers were brief. Each is only allowed to
speak for three minutes which “helps foster clarity.” He said that some
interventions suggested there had been an over-emphasis on the problems the
family faces and that one of the Fathers suggested that we acknowledge the
“beauty and joy” of family life. “Some of the interventions suggested we should
be more inclusionary in our language, especially in the Jubilee Year of Mercy.
Gay persons are our sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, neighbours and
colleagues,” Rosica said.
“There
was also a suggestion that the third form of penance, general absolution, be
used widely in the Year of Mercy,” said Rosica. He pointed out and clarified
that these were suggestions which “might be considered by the Fathers.”
At
the end of the briefing, the panel was asked if the question of the admission
of divorced and remarried Catholics to the Eucharist was still open to
discussion. Archbishop Maria Celli, President of the Pontifical Council of
Social Communication, said that the issue was open. “It is open on a pastoral
level but remember what the Pope said about doctrine,” he said. Asked if the
reception of the Eucharist by divorced and remarried persons was a “doctrine or
a discipline” Archbishop Paul-Andre Durocher of Gatineau, Quebec, replied
saying that different people may see this differently and that it was part of
the work of the Synod to discuss this.
Archbishop
Durocher went on to say that the bishops were all united in acknowledging that
there is a gap between contemporary culture and church teaching. Archbishop
Celli said that it was important for the church to find ways of entering into
dialogue with the world. “We need to speak about what the Church teaches but
must also avoid a ghetto mentality.”
Fr.
Lombardi was asked if Pope Francis was going to participate in a small group.
He said that the Pope did not normally attend small groups but that he was a
Pope of surprises so “he may also surprise us!”
Không có nhận xét nào:
Đăng nhận xét