“The Joy of Love” – Francis’ Response to the Synod.

As we await publication of Pope Francis’ Apostolic Exhortation in response to the 2015 Family Synod, I’ve received this by email correspondence from a “reliable source”:
Accredited journalists are informed that on Friday 8 April 2016 at 11.30 a.m., in the Aula Giovanni Paolo II of the Holy See Press Office, a Press Conference will be held for the presentation of the post-synodal Apostolic Exhortation of the Holy Father Francis, “Amoris Laetitia”, on love in the family.
The panel will be composed of:
Cardinal Lorenzo Baldisseri, general secretary of the Synod of Bishops;
Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, O.P., archbishop of Vienna;
The married couple Professor Francesco Miano, lecturer in moral philosophy at the University of Rome at Tor Vergata, andProfessor Giuseppina De Simone in Miano, lecturer in philosophy at the Theological Faculty of Southern Italy in Naples.
A simultaneous translation service will be available in Italian, English and Spanish.
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The Press Conference can be seen via live streaming (audio-video) on the site: http://player.rv.va (Vatican Player, Vatican Radio) where it will subsequently remain available on demand.
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The Apostolic Exhortation “Amoris laetitia” is to be considered under embargo until 12.00 p.m. on Friday, 8 April 2016.
The text of the Apostolic Exhortation in Italian, French, English, German, Spanish and Portuguese (in paper and/or digital format) will be available to accredited journalists from 8.00 a.m. on Friday 8 April 2016.

Cardinal Nichols: Why the Synod Did Not Address Homosexuality

From a more wide-ranging interview at America magazine, this sentiment echoes that of Archbishop Koch – Church discussion of homosexuality must continue.

The synod, in its final document, said very little about homosexuals or homosexuality.

That’s true, and I think it’s because a kind of logic emerged that this synod must be about the family, and I think the struggles, the upsets and the challenges that a person faces with the same-sex orientation don’t strictly fall within the parameters of the family, except in as much as they are a member of a family into which they were born. But I’m afraid that it didn’t get the attention that I would have hoped but I understand why.

I understand that some speeches and some group discussions suggested that there is need for a more mature discussion on this whole question.

Yes, that’s true. And I think it is quite difficult because, as was also pointed out, this is more than a pastoral issue, this has become a highly politicized issue and it’s difficult actually to respond purely to the pastoral situation without then getting used in what has become a kind of a very political issue. So it is difficult.

Source:  America Magazine

English Bishop’s Apology to LGBT community. | Queer Church News & Opinion

In a joint press conference on the Family Synod with Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Bishop Peter Doyle of Northampton issued an apology to the LGBT community, that this important issue had not been properly addressed. A report at Christian Today includes this:

He (Bishop Doyle) also apologised that the Synod had not had time to deal with the issue of homosexuality. “I’m very sorry for the LGBT good people who were looking to the synod for something. It was really hard for people of same sex attraction. It wasn’t blocked. There was just so much to deal with.”

Source:  Queering the Church

English Bishop’s Apology to LGBT community.

In a joint press conference on the Family Synod with Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Bishop Peter Doyle of Northampton issued an apology to the LGBT community, that this important issue had not been properly addressed. A report at Christian Today includes this:

He (Bishop Doyle) also apologised that the Synod had not had time to deal with the issue of homosexuality. “I’m very sorry for the LGBT good people who were looking to the synod for something. It was really hard for people of same sex attraction. It wasn’t blocked. There was just so much to deal with.”

There are a number of points here that deserve to be highlighted.

This apology is limited in its extent. It is an apology only for the lack of attention to LGBT issues during the synod, not for previous or continuing injustices. There was however at least one such apology during the synod assembly, made during the German speaking small group discussion on part III of the Instrumentum. (There may have been others made in personal interventions, or in private conversations, that have not been publicly disclosed). In the wider Catholic and other Christian communities, this is a growing sentiment. We should expect to see more such apologies in future.

Previously, during the synod itself, Bishop Doyle had criticised the synod for the same point. Yesterday’s apology softened from criticism to a statement of regret, saying that he didn’t believe it was deliberate, but there just wasn’t time. Other bishops disagree. The Belgian Bishop Bonny, an outspoken advocate for LGBT inclusion, complained that in his French group, Cardinal Sarah actively suppressed such discussions. Pressure of time was real, and a partial explanation for the lack of discussion, but it’s becoming increasingly clear that some at least are trying hard to avoid dealing with the subject, possibly because they know that once it is addressed really seriously, the Church will have to make a number of concessions and changes in its practice, and even in doctrine on these matters.  The subject cannot be avoided indefinitely though. A proper review will come, and when it does, there will be changes – just as there have already been in so many other Christian denominations.

It’s also worth noting that his words of apology included both “LGBT”, which like “gay” is a term more usually avoided previously by Catholic bishops, and  “good people“. This echoes a theme spoken of more and more by the bishops, especially those who have actually met directly with us: that our lives, loves and commitment to the Church can be as worthy as those of others. The Catholic catechism speaks of “respect, sensitivity and compassion” for lesbian and gay Catholics, but in the past has too often been mere lip service. From more and more bishops, expressions of “respect” are becoming genuine and sincere.

 

Who won? Who lost? 5 points on the contentious Vatican summit | Crux

The lack of almost any opening to gays and lesbians was certainly a setback for progressives who had been cheered last fall that so many top churchmen had used unprecedented language in speaking in positive terms about gays and same-sex couples.But the broader reality is that conservatives, as many of them acknowledged, did not get what they wanted or needed at this synod, and their prospects going forward look even dimmer.Here’s why:

1. Divorced and remarried Catholics made some gains.

2. Silence on gays is preferable to harsh words.

3. The synod showed that the Church can, and has, changed.

4. The synod is dead. Long live the synod.

5. It’s Francis’ turn now.

Source:  Crux

“Une nouvelle ère pour la pastorale inclusive des personnes LGBT commence avec ce Synode:” | Global Network of Rainbow Catholics

Le Réseau Mondial des Catholiques Arc-en-ciel (Global Network of Rainbow Catholics) prend note du Rapport Final du Synode de 2015 des évêques sur La Vocation et la Mission de la Famille dans l’Église et dans le Monde Contemporain. Nous reconnaissons que le document que les évêques ont soumis au Pape François n’est qu’une étape dans le processus du Synode et qu’il attend une réponse et une réflexion plus complètes de la part du Souverain Pontife selon un mode qu’il choisira.

Source: “Une nouvelle ère pour la pastorale inclusive des personnes LGBT commence avec ce Synode:” | Global Network of Rainbow Catholics

“Uma nova era de cuidado pastoral inclusive às pessoas LGBT vai se iniciar após o Sínodo:” | Global Network of Rainbow Catholics

A Rede Global de Católicos do Arco-Íris assinala o Relatório Final do Sínodo dos Bispos de 2015 sobre A Vocação e a Missão da Família na Igreja e no Mundo Contemporâneo. Reconhecemos que a apresentação pelos Bispos aos Papa Francisco não é mais do que um passo no processo do Sínodo e aguardará uma resposta e reflexão mais abrangentes por parte dele da maneira que ele irá determinar.

Source: “Uma nova era de cuidado pastoral inclusive às pessoas LGBT vai se iniciar após o Sínodo:” | Global Network of Rainbow Catholics

Global women religious leader asks them to do synod’s unfinished work | National Catholic Reporter

The leader of the umbrella group for some 600,000 global Catholic women religious has said that in the wake of this month’s Synod of Bishops the women are called to carry forth the pastoral work that the official church is sometimes not able to do.Maltese Sr. Carmen Sammut — who participated in the Oct. 4-25 Synod as one of 32 women who took part in non-voting roles alongside the 270 prelate-members — said the women religious should engage with people church institutions may not even know need help.”I think that we should not give up our role at the frontiers of the church,” said Sammut, who heads the International Union of Superiors General (UISG).

Source: Global women religious leader asks them to do synod’s unfinished work | National Catholic Reporter

Synode : pas d’opposition entre “blocs” mais des nuances selon les continentsRadio Vatican

À la veille de la conclusion des travaux du Synode sur la famille, s’est tenu ce vendredi 23 octobre le traditionnel briefing en Salle de presse du Saint-Siège, animé par le père Federico Lombardi, avec trois intervenants : le cardinal ghanéen Peter Turkson, prèsident du Conseil pontifical Justice et Paix, le cardinal canadien Gérald Cyprien Lacroix, archevêque de Québec, et Mgr Lucas Van Looy, évêque de Gand, en Belgique.L’après-midi de jeudi a été consacré à l’étude du projet de rapport final, présenté dans sa version provisoire par le rapporteur général, le cardinal Peter Erdö. Le cardinal Lorenzo Baldisseri, secrétaire général du Synode, a expliqué que 1355 amendements avaient été proposés par les pères synodaux par rapport à l’Instrumentum laboris, ce qui a donc représenté un travail d’un grande complexité.

Source: Synode : pas d’opposition entre “blocs” mais des nuances selon les continentsRadio Vatican

LGBT Catholic Briefing Paper sent to Synod – Independent Catholic News

The LGBT Catholic community which gathers in the Diocese of Westminster, sent a Briefing Paper to Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster, and Bishop Peter Doyle, Bishop of Northampton and Chairman of the Catholic Bishops Conference Committee for Marriage and Family Life, who are representing the Catholic Bishops of England & Wales at the International Synod of Bishops on the Family in Rome.The LGBT Catholics Briefing Paper is the result of a Reflection Day, sponsored by the LGBT Catholics Westminster Pastoral Council in June 2013.It calls for the harsh language of previous Vatican documents referring to LGBT people as ‘disordered’ to be rescinded. It urges the Vatican Synod to reject the global criminalisation of LGBT people, including the death penalty. It calls for the Vatican to initiate a three – five year Listening Process, to include Bishops, theologians, LGBT people and their parents, parish clergy and pastoral workers, in order to develop models of pastoral care which more closely reflect Pope Francis’ call for mercy, justice and equality, particularly applying this to the concerns of LGBT people, parents and families. The document calls for the Church to turn from a preoccupation with sexual behaviour to an acceptance of loving relationality, as reflecting the love of God for all people.

Source: LGBT Catholic Briefing Paper sent to Synod – Independent Catholic News