Catholic parishes should welcome same-sex
couples, the synod of nearly 200 bishops on the
family in Rome was told on its first full
day of
meetings.
Ron and Mavis Pirola, from Sydney, who are
among of a small group of laity who will address
the bishops and cardinals over the next two
weeks, said: "The church constantly faces the
tension of upholding the truth while expressing
compassion and mercy. Families face this tension
all the time.
"Take homosexuality as an example. Friends of
ours were planning their Christmas family
gathering when their gay son said he wanted to
bring his partner home, too. They fully believed in
the Church's teachings and they knew their
grandchildren would see them welcome the son
and his partner into the family. Their response
could be summed up in three words, 'He's our
son.' "
RELATED
Pope condemns 'evil' pastors who burden
others
Pope Francis faces sternest test yet as bishops
and cardinals address divorce
Pope Francis emerges as favourite for Nobel
Peace Prize
They continued: "What a model of evangelisation
for parishes as they respond to similar situations
in their neighbourhood."
The Catholic News Service reported the
intervention from Rome, where Pope Francis has
called the extraordinary synod in an attempt to
help the Church find a way to deal with a world
where its teachings on homosexuality, marriage
and divorce and contraception are not only
increasingly out of step with the world, but
regarded as unjust by many. In a letter to
bishops in 1986, the former Pope Benedict, then
Cardinal Ratzinger, stated what remains the
Church's official position, that homosexuality is
"ordered towards an intrinsic moral evil, and thus
the inclination itself must be seen as an objective
disorder."
The Pope, who opened discussions, urged bishops
to speak openly, without fear of upsetting him.
He said they had a "great responsibility" to bring
the realities and problems of churches in the
world to the synod.
Pope Francis said: "A general condition is this:
speak out. Let no one say: 'This can not be said;
think of me this way or that ...' You have to say
everything that you feel with parrhesia (A Greek
word meaning 'boldly')."
He revealed that after an earlier meeting this year
on the topic of the family, a Cardinal wrote to him
saying it was a pity that some Cardinals had not
had the courage to say some things, out of
respect his feelings of fearing that the Pope was
thinking something different. "This is not good,
this is not collegiality," the Pope said. "You have
to say everything that the Lord feels you have to
say, without human diffidence, without timidity.
And, at the same time, you should listen with
humility and accept with an open heart to what
your brothers say. With these two attitudes is
exercised collegiality.
"For this reason, I ask you, please, brothers in the
Lord: speak with frankness and listen with
humility. And do it with tranquility and peace."
Although there is a tangible sense among
observers in Rome that there is a mood for
change, it is unlikely to happen quickly. The
Monday morning session, which was televised,
saw many bishops argue against any changes to
church teaching.
All future sessions will be behind closed doors,
and summarised for accredited media at daily
briefings in the Vatican press office.
At the end of the week, the bishops will draft a
working document on the theme of evangelisation
and the family. It will be finalised next week.
couples, the synod of nearly 200 bishops on the
family in Rome was told on its first full
meetings.
Ron and Mavis Pirola, from Sydney, who are
among of a small group of laity who will address
the bishops and cardinals over the next two
weeks, said: "The church constantly faces the
tension of upholding the truth while expressing
compassion and mercy. Families face this tension
all the time.
"Take homosexuality as an example. Friends of
ours were planning their Christmas family
gathering when their gay son said he wanted to
bring his partner home, too. They fully believed in
the Church's teachings and they knew their
grandchildren would see them welcome the son
and his partner into the family. Their response
could be summed up in three words, 'He's our
son.' "
RELATED
Pope condemns 'evil' pastors who burden
others
Pope Francis faces sternest test yet as bishops
and cardinals address divorce
Pope Francis emerges as favourite for Nobel
Peace Prize
They continued: "What a model of evangelisation
for parishes as they respond to similar situations
in their neighbourhood."
The Catholic News Service reported the
intervention from Rome, where Pope Francis has
called the extraordinary synod in an attempt to
help the Church find a way to deal with a world
where its teachings on homosexuality, marriage
and divorce and contraception are not only
increasingly out of step with the world, but
regarded as unjust by many. In a letter to
bishops in 1986, the former Pope Benedict, then
Cardinal Ratzinger, stated what remains the
Church's official position, that homosexuality is
"ordered towards an intrinsic moral evil, and thus
the inclination itself must be seen as an objective
disorder."
The Pope, who opened discussions, urged bishops
to speak openly, without fear of upsetting him.
He said they had a "great responsibility" to bring
the realities and problems of churches in the
world to the synod.
Pope Francis said: "A general condition is this:
speak out. Let no one say: 'This can not be said;
think of me this way or that ...' You have to say
everything that you feel with parrhesia (A Greek
word meaning 'boldly')."
He revealed that after an earlier meeting this year
on the topic of the family, a Cardinal wrote to him
saying it was a pity that some Cardinals had not
had the courage to say some things, out of
respect his feelings of fearing that the Pope was
thinking something different. "This is not good,
this is not collegiality," the Pope said. "You have
to say everything that the Lord feels you have to
say, without human diffidence, without timidity.
And, at the same time, you should listen with
humility and accept with an open heart to what
your brothers say. With these two attitudes is
exercised collegiality.
"For this reason, I ask you, please, brothers in the
Lord: speak with frankness and listen with
humility. And do it with tranquility and peace."
Although there is a tangible sense among
observers in Rome that there is a mood for
change, it is unlikely to happen quickly. The
Monday morning session, which was televised,
saw many bishops argue against any changes to
church teaching.
All future sessions will be behind closed doors,
and summarised for accredited media at daily
briefings in the Vatican press office.
At the end of the week, the bishops will draft a
working document on the theme of evangelisation
and the family. It will be finalised next week.
0 comments:
Post a Comment