Some Catholic bishops
lamented the lack of the word "sin" in a mid-term report from
their two-week synod meetings and warned against reading too
much into its call for a change in tone towards gays and
divorced followers, according to a transcript released Tuesday
by the Vatican.
One day earlier, the report released midway through the
synod on the family, involving some 190 bishops from around the
world, said the Catholic Church and its leadership must learn to
listen with compassion and greater respect for faithful who are
divorced, co-habitating outside marriage, or gay.
It put forward a shift in tone, especially on divorced
people taking Communion and calling for a "serious reflection"
on homosexuality, noting that Pope Francis has said that
"homosexual persons have gifts and qualities to offer to the
Christian community...often they wish to encounter a Church that
offers them a welcoming home".
However, the report also warned that gay unions are not the
equivalent of marriage between a man and woman.
Still, the comments were quickly cheered by some outside
the synod as a possible opening by the Church leadership towards
homosexuals and divorced Catholics.
But don't expect too much, suggested the transcript of
reactions by bishops to the document.
"In general, the (report) was appreciated for...capturing
the spirit of the assembly and highlighting acceptance and
welcome as the principle theme of the works," said the summary
released by the Vatican.
"The document, it was said, reveals the Church's love for
the family faithful to Christ, but also her capacity to be close
to humanity in every moment of life, to understand that, behind
the pastoral challenges, there are many people who suffer," the
summary added.
"In relation to homosexuals, moreover, the need for a
welcome was highlighted, but with the right care, in order not
to create the impression of a positive evaluation of this
approach on the part of the Church. The same attention had been
called for in respect of cohabitation," it said.
The mid-term report, read aloud to the synod on Monday by
Hungarian Cardinal Peter Erdo, is not binding and is just part
of a longer process that continues next year.
But the language and call for greater openness in the synod
report suggests that bishops are seeking new ways to deal with
the issues concerning many Catholic families.
It was also said to show the influence of Pope Francis, who
has emphasized great compassion and less harsh judgment of
individuals.
Faced with divorced and remarried Catholics, bishops called
for "courageous pastoral choices" and "new pastoral paths,"
according to the report, formally known as the 'relatio post
disceptationem'.
Meanwhile, the reaction summary released by the Vatican
also suggested some bishops felt the report should have also
included the "theme of women, their protection and their
importance for the transmission of life and faith".
Concerns were also raised that the report did not place
enough emphasis on happy families, but instead focused attention
too greatly on families in distress.
"From the synod it emerged more clearly that indissoluble,
happy marriage, faithful forever, is beautiful, possible and
present in society, therefore avoiding a near-exclusive focus on
imperfect family situations," said the reaction.
Outside the synod, Bishop Domenicao Mogavero of Mazara del
Vallo in Sicily told Italian newspaper La Stampa that society is
moving towards greater acceptance of gay marriage, with the
State respecting such unions.
"And the Church must accept them and accompany them
pastorally without marginalizing them with the label of people
living in sin," he said.
The second phase of the synod process will involve another
major meeting in October 2015 with its theme being the vocation
and mission of the family in the Church and the modern world.
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