Three Italian-language
discussion groups tasked with examining the Church's position on
remarried couples at the ongoing Synod on the Family at the
Vatican agreed Wednesday that situations should be dealt with on
a case-by-case basis at the discretion of the local bishop with
greater inclusivity as a final aim.
"It is not currently possible to establish general criteria
that are applicable to all cases, which are sometimes very
different," Group B moderated by Cardinal Edoardo Menichelli
said in its report.
Discernment should be "careful and respectful of the
complexity of such situations," it added.
The Synod Fathers concluded by calling on Pope Francis to
"harmonise and further explore the complex subject (doctrine,
discipline and law) of the sacrament of marriage, also taking
into consideration pastoral action with respect to divorcees who
remarry".
Group A led by Cardinal Francesco Montenegro highlighted
the need to promote "itineraries of faith, reconciliation and
integration into the church community".
"It is important that these itineraries include careful and
cautious pastoral discernment under the final authority of the
bishop," the group said.
Group C led by Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, president of the
Italian bishops' conference, insisted on the removal of "certain
forms of existing liturgical, educational and pastoral
exclusion".
The synod fathers stood by existing doctrine excluding
remarried couples from communion but also stressed the
importance of discernment under the leadership of the bishop and
"in accordance with common criteria according to the virtue of
prudence, educating Christian communities in the act of
welcoming".
Group C also recommended paying greater pastoral attention
to "families with people with homosexual tendencies" and called
for an "anthropological analysis" of the issue.
They also denounced "undue economic and legislative
pressure to introduce laws that equate civil unions to
marriage".
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