US bishops respond to “botched” 2014 Synod communication

The US bishops elected a solidly conservative team to represent the US Church at part two of the Synod in 2015.

The decision, reported Monday, comes in the wake of what they see as a confusing part one of the Synod held in October 2014.

The US Bishops are of a view that the October 2014 Synod sent mixed messages to Catholics around the world.

Conference president, Archbishop Joseph Kurtz of Louisville and Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of Galveston-Houston have “impeccable orthodox credentials” and “were certainties to attend”, reports Breitbart.

Kurtz and DiNardo are being joined by Philadelphia’s Archbishop Charles Chaput and his protégé, Los Angeles Archbishop José Gomez.

Chaput is one of the most conservative voices in the US Bishops’ Conference and Gomez is a member of Opus Dei.

Chaput, who did not attend the first part of the synod, seemed to indicate the devil inculcated the Synod’s communication.

“I was very disturbed by what happened” he said.

“I think confusion is of the devil, and I think the public image that came across was one of confusion.”

Chaput is joined by many conservative Catholics who say the October 2014 Synod sent mixed signals around the world and call the communication “botched”, reports Breitbart.

However Synod heavy-weights German Cardinal Reinhard Marx and Dublin Archbishop Diarmuid Martin disagree.

Marx told the Synod that those saying that the doctrine will never change have a very restrictive view of things and while the Gospel remains core to Church teaching he doubts the Church and society have discovered everything.

Archbishop Martin of Dublin decried Synod critics who said there was confusion.

Making accusations of confusion where such confusion did not exist actually foments confusion, said the Archbishop.

New Zealand Archbishop John Dew acknowledged the sharp divisions among synod members. However he welcomed the freedom of speech granted by Pope Francis, saying the 2014 Synod was very different to the one held nine years ago.

The 2014 synod made global headlines when it released a working document summarizing its first week of discussions calling on the church to listen more and to apply mercy much more widely; in particular to homosexual relations, extramarital sex and communion for divorced and re-married Catholics.

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News category: World.

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