In a statement released through the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference, Cardinal John Dew, Bishop Charles Drennan, Dr John Kleinsman and Sharon Cole spoke on Amoris Laetitia (The Joy of Love).

They noted the merciful and pastoral emphasis of the document.

Amoris Laetitia signals the Pope's vision for the Church as a family of families and reaffirms the welfare of the family as decisive for the future of every community and society.

Cardinal John Dew said "I haven't yet studied the document fully, but already I get the sense that what Pope Francis is saying is coming out of a real and very grounded understanding of the difficulties that face families and that the wider Church family is the place where people should find support and accompaniment through these times."

The cardinal noted that Pope Francis took particular care in talking about those who are divorced and in new unions.

There is a need for careful discernment of situations and avoidance of judgment that does not take into account complexities and differing degrees of responsibility.

"The emphasis is on showing love and tenderness and working to integrate all people into the Church community no matter what their situation," Cardinal Dew said.

Among Bishop Drennan's comments were: "Francis says that our theological and pastoral language must reach the hearts of young people in such a way that they take up the adventure of marriage."

The bishop said the Pope stresses that marriage is a treasure for everyone in society, and marriage should be valued publicly as a unique relationship.

Dr John Kleinsman, Director of the Catholic Bioethics Agency, The Nathaniel Centre, is heartened by the "idea that it's not enough to simply stress doctrinal, bioethical and moral issues without knowing the actual situation of families and without encouraging openness to grace".

He is also heartened by the Pope's criticism of excessive idealisation in some of the teaching about marriage, rendering it less attractive.

Sharron Cole noted that Pope Francis emphasised that openness to children lies at the heart of authentic conjugal love and decisions about regulating birth must always respect the dignity of the person.

She also mentioned couples' priorities and the Church's role in allowing couples to form their own consciences.

Sources

• NZCBC
• Amoris Laetitia
• Vatican Radio (summary)
• Image: Church Militant

Cole was a New Zealand observer at the 2015 Synod on Families.

She is calling on the church to listen "with deep empathy" to lay people and to "re-examine its teaching on marriage and sexuality, and its understanding of responsible parenthood, in a dialogue of laity and bishops together."

Cole said that while the church's teaching on conjugal love and responsible parenthood in "Humanae Vitae" has "great beauty and depth," couples who struggle with either low-income, mental health problems or other difficulties find it hard to abide by those tenets.

"As an ex-board member of Natural Family Planning, I know that this method of contraception permitted by 'Humanae Vitae' is an effective method for motivated couples," she said.

"Every family has difficulties which might lead them for a period of time to use artificial contraception in the interests of responsible parenting."

"Marriage naturally leads to a desire for children, which is a biological imperative and a great grace of the sacrament."

"In my experience, very few couples suppress this desire, with its constraints tending to be the couple's resources to cope, not selfishness," she said.

"Laypeople are not trusted to make good decisions in conscience, and they often feel subjected to exacting rules which take no account of context or of stages of spiritual development," she said.

She also said that "too many in authority responded to clergy sexual abuse in a way which demonstrated that they lacked the expertise in sexuality and psychology to make good decisions, with the result they became complicit in perpetuating enormous harm, harm done to laypeople."

"There are 270 bishops and cardinals participating in the synod and voting on its outcome," writes Rosie Scammell in Crux.

"A number of other participants, including lay couples and representatives from other churches, have been invited to give their opinions, but will not be able to make decisions on the final text."

"That includes more than two dozen women who have been called to present their views."

"The rows of seats in the synod hall, where Catholic bishops are meeting to discuss family issues, are filled with bishops and cardinals — all male. To find any women, look to the back of the room," she says.

"The women's distance from the heart of the synod hall reflects fears raised by women's groups that their participation is a mere token on the Vatican's part."

Source

• cruxnow.com
• thebostonpilot.com
• Image: ncronline.org thebostonpilot.com

NewstalkZB reports that the church describes the selection of 4 New Zealanders as a significant number for a small country, especially one with a small Catholic population.

The Archbishop of Wellington, Cardinal John Dew, and Palmerston North's Bishop Charles Drennan will be voting members.

The chair of Parents Centres New Zealand, Sharron Cole, and bioethics expert, Dr John Kleinsman, will be attending as non voting members.

Cardinal Soane Patita Mafi, Bishop of Tonga, and the Archbishop of Suva, Peter Loy Chong will be representing the Pacific Island nations.

The bishop of Kundiawa, Anton Bal, is representing Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands.

Drennan and Loy Chong and Kundiawa have been elected by their respective Bishops' Conferences as their representatives.

Cardinals Dew and Mafi are have been appointed by the Pope.

Cole, a mother of four adult children, says she is keen to offer her experience as an everyday Catholic woman and New Zealander.

"I'm not a theologian and there are lots of women who have that experience," she said.

"I see my role as bringing a pastoral perspective to what effect church teaching has on people in their everyday life."

John Kleinsman is director of the Nathaniel Centre, the New Zealand Catholic Bioethics Centre.

Communications advisor to New Zealand Catholic Bishops Simone Olsen said it was important for isolated geographic regions like New Zealand to be represented.

"I think in this case he has done that by including countries like Tonga and other Pacific nations that are not traditionally Catholic," Olsen said.

More than 360 participants, including 18 married couples from around the world are expected to attend October's Synod of Bishops on the family.

In addition to the 166 synod members elected by their national bishops' conferences, 22 heads of Eastern Catholic churches, 25 heads of Vatican congregations and councils and 10 heads of men's religious orders, the pope appointed an additional 45 synod fathers to take part in the Oct. 4-25 gathering.

Source

• nzherald.co.nz
• newstalkzb.co.nz
• Image: parentscentre.org.nz maristmessenger.co.nz