Synod's
small groups seek consensus amid diverging visions
(Vatican
Radio) Participants at the Synod on the Family have concluded their small group
work and presented the results of their discussions on the third and final part
of the working document, dedicated to ‘The Mission of the Family today’. On
Wednesday members of a special committee are drawing together the
recommendations of all the small groups into a final document which will be
presented and voted on by Synod Fathers on Saturday.
Philippa
Hitchen takes a look at the conclusions of those Circuli Minores which were
presented to Synod on Tuesday afternoon:
Listen:
The
afternoon began with a presentation from the Russian Orthodox delegate to the
Synod, Metropolitan Hilarion, who gave a bleak assessment of secular society
incapable of providing any moral direction for people today. Without mincing
his words, he warned against calls for renewal within Christian churches and accused
some Protestant communities of selling out to a godless world by blessing those
in same-sex relationships.
His
words were music to the ears of Catholic bishops from many countries who are
also wary of any changes they see as undermining the traditional teaching of
the Church. (Those leaders seem less willing to explore the Orthodox tradition
of blessing divorced and remarried couples without undermining the
indissolubility of sacramental marriage).
Yet
listening to reports from the 13 language groups, it became clear that these
closed door discussions have highlighted divisions between those who are wary
of change and those who feel the Church must find new ways of responding to the
new challenges facing families today. “The Church should be prudent, but not so
prudent it ignores those in need”, warned one group. Another echoed the fears
that any discussion of so-called ‘irregular’ relationships can be seen as
recognition or even approval of them.
The
German and French groups seemed most united in their call to recognize that
realistic discussion of such irregular situations in no way detracts from the
witness of faithful Catholics who do live up to Church teaching and who deserve
the unconditional support of the pastors. One English group talked of a
challenge to Church leaders’ imagination to find a new language of dialogue to
discern shared values among people of different backgrounds and beliefs. The
Italians noted the importance of listening to individual stories and
recognizing the complexity of each marital breakdown, while the French
spoke frankly of clashes over questions of remarriage and women in Church
ministry.
So
where is all this headed and how is it possible to draw such disparate views into
a document that will satisfy all participants? Over two years after the Pope
first announced the start of the Synod process, bishops said more research and
input is needed from experts, including deeper anthropological study into
questions of gender and same-sex relationships. In the end, the Church leaders
agreed on just one thing: that unlike an ecumenical council, the Synod is an
advisory and not a decision making body, so all this wealth of honest and at
times heated discussion will be handed back to the Holy Father, for him to draw
out the final conclusions.
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