Pope to Synod: The Church must be a bridge, not a roadblock

[gilliam]

"A Church with closed doors betrays herself and her mission, and, instead of being a bridge, becomes a roadblock”, Pope Francis stated in his homily as he opened the synod of bishops on the family, during concelebrated mass in St Peter’s Basilica, October 4.

…

First of all, he said, the Church must carry out her mission “in fidelity to her Master as a voice crying out in the desert.” This means “defending faithful love and encouraging the many families which live married life as an experience which reveals of God’s love.” It also entails “defending the sacredness of life, of every life” and “defending the unity and indissolubility of the conjugal bond as a sign of God’s grace and of the human person’s ability to love seriously.”

Next, the Church must carry out her mission “in truth”, that is “the truth which is not changed by passing fads or popular opinions.” She must present “the truth which protects individuals and humanity as a whole from the temptation of self-centeredness, and from turning fruitful love into sterile selfishness, faithful union into temporary bonds.”

Thirdly, he said the Church must carry out her mission “in charity.” This means “not pointing a finger in judgment of others, but – faithful to her nature as a mother – conscious of her duty to seek out and care for hurting couples with the balm of acceptance and mercy.” In this context, the Church must be “a ‘field hospital’ with doors wide open to whoever knocks in search of help and support; to reach out to others with true love, to walk with our fellow men and women who suffer, to include them and guide them to the wellspring of salvation”.

Well aware of the pre-synod battles between those who see the orthodox teaching of the Church being put at risk by those who are emphasizing the need for mercy in addressing the different pastoral problems related to the family, Pope Francis reminded the synod fathers that “a Church which teaches and defends fundamental values” must not forget the words of Jesus in the Gospel that “the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath” (Mk 2:27). She must also remember that Jesus said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; I came not to call the righteous, but sinners (Mk 2:17).”

americamagazine.org/content/dispatches/pope-synod-church-must-be-bridge-not-roadblock

 

[gilliam]

From the article:

Thirdly, he said the Church must carry out her mission “in charity.” This means “not pointing a finger in judgment of others, but – faithful to her nature as a mother – conscious of her duty to seek out and care for hurting couples with the balm of acceptance and mercy.” In this context, the Church must be “a ‘field hospital’ with doors wide open to whoever knocks in search of help and support; to reach out to others with true love, to walk with our fellow men and women who suffer, to include them and guide them to the wellspring of salvation”.

Well aware of the pre-synod battles between those who see the orthodox teaching of the Church being put at risk by those who are emphasizing the need for mercy in addressing the different pastoral problems related to the family, Pope Francis reminded the synod fathers that “a Church which teaches and defends fundamental values” must not forget the words of Jesus in the Gospel that “the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath” (Mk 2:27). She must also remember that Jesus said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; I came not to call the righteous, but sinners (Mk 2:17).”

 

[Casilda]

"A Church with closed doors betrays herself and her mission, and, instead of being a bridge, becomes a roadblock”, Pope Francis stated in his homily as he opened the synod of bishops on the family, during concelebrated mass in St Peter’s Basilica, October 4.

Church must be “a ‘field hospital’ with doors wide open to whoever knocks in search of help and support; to reach out to others with true love, to walk with our fellow men and women who suffer, to include them and guide them to the wellspring of salvation”.

Great observation skills on the part of the Pope, or more likely the Holy Spirit guiding him. I would like to comment on the closed doors/doors wide open concept in the diocese I live in, I have found it doesn’t matter either way, because I found the church empty. There is no one there to help you, not really.

 

[Paganus]

Great observation skills on the part of the Pope, or more likely the Holy Spirit guiding him. I would like to comment on the closed doors/doors wide open concept in the diocese I live in, I have found it doesn’t matter either way, because I found the church empty. There is no one there to help you, not really.

The One you really want should be up on the altar, in a golden tabernacle, near the red candle. Talk to Him. He’ll be there even if everyone else seems to have gone AWOL.

 

[Casilda]

The One you really want should be up on the altar, in a golden tabernacle, near the red candle. Talk to Him. He’ll be there even if everyone else seems to have gone AWOL.

Yes, you are right, He escorted me to another diocese.

 

[CaptFun]

Yes, you are right, He escorted me to another diocese.

Seek and you shall find is from the founder (Jesus).

He didn’t say IT would be in the first place we look.

He ALSO knows if we are truly looking (seeking) or not.

I like what the Pope has to say here.

Sometimes it seems there are so many artificial impediments to the sacraments.

I know it is important that people know what they are doing. But sincerity could be discerned without making people wait an entire YEAR to be able to be baptized, take mandatory classes more at the Church’s convenience (it seems to me sometimes) than the ones it is supposed to be serving (the Catechumens).

Sponsorship is a good idea … but can be a roadblock too.

Just a thought: The sincere Ethiopian St. Philip was sent to in Acts was baptized the same DAY. Eucharist later presumably .

Acts 8:26

Then the angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, “Get up and head south on the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza, the desert route.”

27 So he got up and set out. Now there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of the Candace, that is, the queen of the Ethiopians, in charge of her entire treasury, who had come to Jerusalem to worship,

28 and was returning home. Seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah.

29 The Spirit said to Philip, “Go and join up with that chariot.”

30 Philip ran up and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?”

31 He replied, “How can I, unless someone instructs me?” So he invited Philip to get in and sit with him.

32 This was the scripture passage he was reading: "Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter, and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he opened not his mouth.

33 In (his) humiliation justice was denied him. Who will tell of his posterity? For his life is taken from the earth."

34 Then the eunuch said to Philip in reply, “I beg you, about whom is the prophet saying this? About himself, or about someone else?”

35 Then Philip opened his mouth and, beginning with this scripture passage, he proclaimed Jesus to him.

36 As they traveled along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said,

"Look, there is water. What is to prevent my being baptized?"

…

38 Then he ordered the chariot to stop, and Philip and the eunuch both went down into the water, and he baptized him.

39 When they came out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, but continued on his way rejoicing.

There used to be a parish in my diocese that did a sort of express route to baptism.

Several Monday nights in a row with your sponsor and it took 3 months … not a year. Several convert friends of mine were happy to travel the extra miles from their geographical parishes to “join” quickly. The old priest who oversaw that program is now gone … and I don’t know if there is such a thing now.

With this Pope’s “bridge” rhetoric now, maybe we’ll see more of this … I’d help teach the class voluntarily. Maybe each diocese could have a central location for it to be done.

While we are at it … maybe confessions could be more available than they are.

“Retired” priests can still do this can’t they (and non-priests can’t do THIS at all)!

Above are ardent suggestions – and not complaints so much.