A Vatican document released at the halfway point of the synod on the family shows a dramatic shift in the Church’s language about homosexual people. The relatio post disceptationem is a summary of the discussions held at the synod so far. It was read out in the presence of Pope Francis and the synod delegates Read more
A French couple has admitted to the synod on the family that they used artificial contraception after the birth of their third child. But Olivier and Xristilla Roussy said their experience with contraception was not a good one. After their third child was born, Mr Roussy said, Xristilla was exhausted; they thought that using the Read more
Archbishop John Dew has contrasted the freedom of speech prevailing at the synod on the family with the atmosphere at a past synod. The Archbishop of Wellington told Vatican Radio that what is happening is very different from a synod on the Eucharist nine years ago. “ . . . I talked [then] about the possibility Read more
A Nigerian archbishop has told the synod on the family that no-one should try to impose foreign cultures and ways on African peoples. Africans “have come of age”, said Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama, who is president of the Nigerian bishops’ conference. “We should be allowed to think for ourselves,” he said, noting that many African countries Read more
On the eve of the opening of the synod on the family, Pope Francis said the secret to solving situations of difficulty lies in gazing on the face of Christ. “Every time we return to the source of Christian experience, new paths and un-thought of possibilities open up,” the Pope said at a prayer vigil Read more
One of Pope Francis’s closest advisors says the issue of Communion for divorced and remarried Catholics is not the main focus of the upcoming synod on the family. Honduran Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga said the synod’s focus will be mainly on “pastoral conversion” in how the Church forms and nourishes marriage and families. The cardinal Read more