The presidents of Africa’s bishops’ conferences have stated they will not adopt the language of movements fighting for the destruction of the family. In a preparatory meeting in Accra, Ghana ahead of October’s synod on the family, the bishops stated “we must begin from the faith, reaffirm it and live it for the sake of Read more
The president of the German bishops’ conference says October’s synod on the family cannot prescribe in detail the pastoral practice for Germany. Cardinal Reinhard Marx told a German newspaper the German Church “cannot wait” for synodal statements, as marriage and family ministry has to be undertaken now. The German bishops therefore want to publish their Read more
A Vatican department allegedly stopped copies of a book defending the Church’s teaching on marriage from getting to many attendees at last year’s synod. “Remaining in the Truth of Christ” contained contributions from the Vatican’s doctrinal chief Cardinal Gerhard Müller, church historian Cardinal Walter Brandmüller and American Cardinal Raymond Burke. The book aimed to counter Read more
A coalition of royals, prelates and Catholic activists has appealed to Pope Francis asking him to hold the line on Church teaching regarding the family. According to a Breitbart report, their letter to the Pope focuses on the synod on the family in October. It expresses the signatories’ “fears and hopes regarding the future of Read more
An easy-to-complete survey on family life has been produced in the United States as an alternative to an unwieldy official Vatican survey. The surveys come ahead of October’s synod on the family. The concise survey has been produced by Strong Catholic Families, a group made up of four organisations which minister to families and youth. Read more
A questionnaire that is part of the preparation for the next session of the Extraordinary Synod [The Synod on the Family] is available online. The New Zealand Catholic Bishops are inviting people to use the questionnaire as an opportunity to add their “voice” to the global discussion which began last year. Completed questionnaires must be returned by Read more
There has been a mixed reaction in New Zealand to the Family Synod document relatio post disceptationem – the half-way report drafted by a group of Synod fathers selected by Pope Francis. Wellington-based Catholic moral theologian John Kleinsman describes the statement as “momentous” and says it’s an exciting time to be Catholic. Peter Lineham, Massey University historian. says Read more
An Australian married couple has told Pope Francis and bishops at the synod on the family that Catholic parishes should welcome gay couples. Ron and Mavis Pirola, who have been married for more than 50 years, told the synod how friends of theirs welcomed their gay son and his partner one Christmas. “The Church constantly Read more
Married couples will have a prominent role in the upcoming synod on the family, the event’s organiser has revealed. Cardinal Lorenzo Baldisseri, the secretary general of the synod, said that married couples will address the gathering immediately after each topic is opened by a bishop. The synod runs from October 5-19 in Rome and Pope Read more
A Belgian bishop has urged the synod on the family to have the courage to bring the Church’s moral teachings more in line with the lived experience of the laity. In a letter reported by The Tablet, Bishop Johan Bonny of Antwerp said there is a gap between the moral teachings of the Church and Read more