Vatican releases preparatory document ahead of 2015 synod

[McCall1981]

(I haven’t found a full english translation yet, I’ll post it when I can find it, or anyone else, please post if you find it first)

catholicherald.co.uk/news/2014/12/09/vatican-release-preparatory-document-ahead-2015-synod/

Vatican releases preparatory document ahead of 2015 synod

by Staff Reporter posted Tuesday, 9 Dec 2014

Pope Francis at the extraordinary synod in October (CNS)
Document includes 46 questions for national bishops’ conferences around the world

The Vatican has released a 26-page preparatory document, or lineamenta, ahead of the Ordinary Synod of Bishops which will take place at the Vatican in October 2015.

The document, based on the final report on the extraordinary synod on the family which convened earlier this year, includes 46 questions for national bishops’ conferences around the world.

Vatican expert John Allen Jr, writing at Cruxnow.com, said that these questions cover similar ground to the extraordinary synod, with topics including “hot button issues… such as same-sex marriage, divorce and remarriage, and cohabitation outside marriage”.

But, he wrote, that the wording of the lineament is “designed to make clear that the basics of Catholic doctrine aren’t in doubt.”

“For instance, the term ‘indissolubility’ appears in the document four times, underlining the traditional teaching that marriage is permanent and hence divorce is taboo. There are also multiple references to ‘greatness and beauty’ of the ‘model of family formed by a man and a woman … and open to procreation’,” he added.

According to Catholic News Service, the report asks about “possible steps” and “unnecessary impediments” to “sacramental pastoral care” of “remarried divorcees”. And, in reference to “persons with a homosexual tendency”, it asks, “how to propose to them the demands of God’s will in their situation?”

The theme of the Ordinary Synod, which is scheduled to take place from October 4 to 25 next year, is “the vocation and mission of the family in the Church and the modern world”.

It will be larger gathering than the extraordinary synod, with more bishops from around the world in attendance.

 

[gilliam]

Hot-button issues remain in new questionnaire for 2015 synod

In the run-up to last October’s synod of bishops on the family, one of the more sensational developments was the Vatican’s decision to ask bishops around the world to survey the grassroots on matters such as same-sex marriage, divorce and remarriage, and cohabitation outside marriage.

Some bishops’ conferences made a big deal of the questionnaire, even creating online opportunities for people to submit reactions, while others played it down out of concern that raising these questions risked a false impression that Church teaching is up for grabs. In hindsight, it was an early hint that the synod would be a tumultuous experience.

Apparently, the old saying “once bitten, twice shy” doesn’t apply to a synod of bishops.

On Tuesday, the Vatican released the lineamenta, or preparatory document, for the next synod called by Pope Francis for October 2015, also focused on the family. The document contains 46 questions covering much of the same ground as last time, even if the wording is designed to make clear that the basics of Catholic doctrine aren’t in doubt.

For instance, the term “indissolubility” appears in the document four times, underlining the traditional teaching that marriage is permanent and hence divorce is taboo. There are also multiple references to “greatness and beauty” of the “model of family formed by a man and a woman … and open to procreation.”

There are clear references to the Church’s ban on birth control, to condemning the “plague of abortion,” and to promoting “an efficient culture of life.”

cruxnow.com/church/2014/12/09/hot-button-issues-remain-in-new-questionnaire-for-2015-synod/?s_campaign=crux:email:daily

 

[irenaeus1]

http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/1405113.htm

The questionnaire for 2015 instructs bishops’ conferences to “avoid, in their responses, a formulation of pastoral care based simply on an application of doctrine,” in favor of what it describes as Pope Francis’ call to “pastoral activity that is characterized by a ‘culture of encounter’ and capable of recognizing the Lord’s gratuitous work, even outside customary models.”

I hope this isn’t accurate. After all, why in the world would we want to base our pastoral care on doctrine???

 

[Transformer]

I’m eager to see the full English translation. I only hope they can manage not to mistranslate any key words or leave out any entire phrases this time.

 

[McCall1981]

Just to be clear, since I was confused at first, there isn’t really a new “document” coming. This “document” consists of the Synod '14 final doc (which we’ve already seen) plus the questionnaire (which we haven’t seen yet). So the only new part will be the questionnaire.

 

[irenaeus1]

Just to be clear, since I was confused at first, there isn’t really a new “document” coming. This “document” consists of the Synod '14 final doc (which we’ve already seen) plus the questionnaire (which we haven’t seen yet). So the only new part will be the questionnaire.

I think you may be correct. I believe they only appended the questions to the end of the October document. It appears to only exists in Italian on the Vatican website, so again, we will have to wait for an English translation.

 

[McCall1981]

I may be mistaken, but I believe that this is a ‘new’ document. I gather because this only exists in Italian on the Vatican website, so again, we will have to wait for an English translation.

I could be wrong. I said that because Catholic News Service says:

"Together with the final report of the 2014 assembly, the 46 questions published by the Vatican Dec. 9 comprise a preparatory document, known as a “lineamenta,” for the Oct. 4-25 synod, which will have the theme: “The vocation and mission of the family in the church and the modern world.”

I guess we’ll have to wait and see. Either way something will be new.

 

[McCall1981]

This article gives a little more info:

vaticaninsider.lastampa.it/en/the-vatican/detail/articolo/sinodo-37969/

"Questions follow the structure of the relatio synodi, starting with the family context and challenges it faces and moving onto the Gospel of the family (Question number 17 asks what initiatives are in place for understanding the value of indissoluble and fertile marriage as a path toward personal fulfilment?). The section ends by highlighting that considering the beauty of successful marriages and solid families and having appreciated the generous testimony of those who have stayed faithful to this bond despite having been abandoned by their spouse, the pastors gathered at the Synod asked themsleves – in an open, courageous, concerned and cautious way – what approach the Church should take to Catholics who are united in civil marriage, to couples living together and to those who divorce having entered a valid marriage and then remarry in a civil ceremony. (Question 20 asks how the Church can set about explaining that no one is excluded from the mercy of God and how to express this truth through pastoral action for families, particularly wounded and fragile families).

The third and final part of the document goes through some “pastoral perspectives”, emphasising that it is important for individuals to let themselves be guided by the pastoral turning point that began with the Extraordinary Synod of Bishops rooted in the Second Vatican Council and Pope Francis’ magisterium. It is up to the national bishops’ conferences to examine this further, involving all ecclesial component as appropriate, applying it in a concrete manner to each specific context. It is paramount not to start from scratch, but to follow the path already traced by the Extraordinary Synod, which marked a starting point.

Questions also addressed the points contained in paragraph 52 (the debate surrounding the issue of communion for remarried divorcees) and 55 (homosexuality), which together with 53 (spiritual communion), did not get the two-thirds majority vote in October. One of the questions asks: Sacramental pastoral care for remarried divorcees requires further examination, looking at Orthodox practice as well and bearing in mind the distinction between an objective situation of sin and extenuating circumstances. What line of action to take? What possible steps to take? What suggestions can be given to overcome obstacles that are undue or unnecessary? Meanwhile, question 38 asks what kind of pastoral attention the Christian community shows to families with gay members and how to treat people in such situations, in line with the Gospel, without any unfair discrimination. Question 40 asks how the Church can present God’s will in the context of their situation. Other questions address life, abortion and contraception for example question 44 asks how the Church can combat the plague of abortion, promoting an efficient culture in favour of life. Question 41 is about the Humane Vitae and the dialogue with science."

 

[McCall1981]

The full question on communion is:

“Sacramental pastoral practice with regard to the divorced and remarried requires further examination, also with the evaluation of the Orthodox practice and taking into consideration ‘the distinction between an objective sinful situation and extenuating circumstances.’ What are the perspectives in which to act? What are the possible steps? What are the suggestions for avoiding undue or unnecessary forms of impediments?"

The full question on homosexuality is:

“How does the Christian community turn its pastoral attention to families that have within them persons with homosexual tendencies? Avoiding all unjust discrimination, in what way can it care for persons in such situations in the light of the Gospel? How can it present them with the requirements of God’s will in their situation?"

chiesa.espresso.repubblica.it/articolo/1350935?eng=y

( And I’d recommend reading this whole article, it is really good)

 

[boar2roar]

This is supposed to be the synod on the family not the synod on hot button issues concerning a tiny minority of people with an improper sexuality or communion for a tiny amount of divorced people who didn’t get an annulment. I don’t know if its the media hyping this up or if the Kasper wing of bishops is really fighting to promote these things but there are so many family issues that don’t have anything to do with these minuscule hot-button issues that should never be changed anyway.

 

[SWolf]

I hope this isn’t accurate. After all, why in the world would we want to base our pastoral care on doctrine???

We should take a hint from Cardinal Muller:

lifesitenews.com/news/attempt-to-divide-doctrine-and-pastoral-practice-is-a-subtle-heresy-vatican

“Each division between ‘theory’ and ‘practice’ of the faith would be a reflection of a subtle Christological ‘heresy,’” Cardinal Gerhard Muller, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, told a recent gathering of the International Theological Commission. Such a division could only be the result of “a division in the mystery of the eternal Word of the Father, who became flesh.”

Muller’s remarks were published earlier this month by the Vatican’s own newspaper, L’Osservatore Romano.

It has always been the teaching of Christianity that “knowledge of God” is ordered to “the ultimate end of man, for man’s salvation,” Müller said, citing the First Vatican Council in the 19th century. There can never be “a gap or a conflict between the understanding of faith and pastoral or practice of the lived faith.” Therefore, all “authentic theology” grows out of and remains consistent with the “theory.”

It’s nice to have someone who is still willing to say Heresy.

 

[McCall1981]

Here is the full document, in English:

vatican.va/roman_curia/synod/documents/rc_synod_doc_20141209_lineamenta-xiv-assembly_en.html

 

[otjm]

I hope this isn’t accurate. After all, why in the world would we want to base our pastoral care on doctrine???

Possibly because that is simply another way of wording “Don’t simply say ‘Lets keep doing what we have always done, and not do anything different’”.

If the Church had been effective over the last 40 years or so, we would not be in the position we are now in; not that it would be good, but hopefully, it would not be as bad as it now is.

 

[otjm]

We should take a hint from Cardinal Muller:

lifesitenews.com/news/attempt-to-divide-doctrine-and-pastoral-practice-is-a-subtle-heresy-vatican

It’s nice to have someone who is still willing to say Heresy.

For starters, try reading the whole text.

Secondly, there is not only one possible pastoral approach to any matter and still be true to the moral law and doctrine.

 

[otjm]

This is supposed to be the synod on the family not the synod on hot button issues concerning a tiny minority of people with an improper sexuality or communion for a tiny amount of divorced people who didn’t get an annulment. I don’t know if its the media hyping this up or if the Kasper wing of bishops is really fighting to promote these things but there are so many family issues that don’t have anything to do with these minuscule hot-button issues that should never be changed anyway.

According to CARA (and I have not seen anyone challenge their numbers): 7% of divorced Catholics have received a decree of nullity; 8% have started the process and either stopped, withdrawn their petition, or had a finding that there was insufficient evidence for a decree of nullity.

That leaves 85% of divorced Catholics having never applied.

Other statistics indicates that one out of four Catholic marriages result in divorce.

Maybe you consider these to be a “minority of people” for a “tiny amount of divorced people who didn’t get an annulment”.

The Church doesn’t.

 

[SWolf]

For starters, try reading the whole text.

I did. What do you believe I missed?

Secondly, there is not only one possible pastoral approach to any matter and still be true to the moral law and doctrine.

That’s not under debate. What’s under debate is whether one of the proposals, allowing communion to sexually active civilly remarried Catholics who want to continue being sexually active to their concubines, after some sort of penance, follows doctrine properly. Some Cardinals believe rather strongly against the proposal.

 

[SWolf]

According to CARA (and I have not seen anyone challenge their numbers): 7% of divorced Catholics have received a decree of nullity; 8% have started the process and either stopped, withdrawn their petition, or had a finding that there was insufficient evidence for a decree of nullity.

That leaves 85% of divorced Catholics having never applied.

Other statistics indicates that one out of four Catholic marriages result in divorce.

Maybe you consider these to be a “minority of people” for a “tiny amount of divorced people who didn’t get an annulment”.

The Church doesn’t.

I know four divorced and remarried Catholics amongst my family. No annulment. At my grandparent’s funeral, every one of them took communion. I’m sure others have similar stories.

The Catholics serious about their faith will go through the process, and NOT opt for a civil marriage. The Easter/Christmas Catholics, if they even go to those, won’t get an annulment, and will still take communion for events like Weddings and Funerals. Opening up this option won’t make them go back to Church or be more faithful Catholics. Sorry.

What is the percentage of divorced and remarried Catholics who actually go to Church every week and don’t take communion? That’s the better question. I would bet it is very, very, small.

 

[pnewton]

Rather than second-guess the Holy Father, I believe the questions he wants explored will benefit from the thought that goes into those difficult issues.

 

[irenaeus1]

Possibly because that is simply another way of wording “Don’t simply say ‘Lets keep doing what we have always done, and not do anything different’”.

If the Church had been effective over the last 40 years or so, we would not be in the position we are now in; not that it would be good, but hopefully, it would not be as bad as it now is.

I would argue that the Church has been ineffective over the last 40 years PRECISELY because the pastoral care has NOT been based on doctrine. To do so now would actually BE doing something different. But that’s not how the statement for the questionnaire reads.

 

[McCall1981]

I would argue that the Church has been ineffective over the last 40 years PRECISELY because the pastoral care has NOT been based on doctrine. To do so would actually BE doing something different. But that’s not how the statement for the questionnaire reads.