In a report, the German bishops summarised the answers they received as part of a consultation on the Vatican’s questionnaire in preparation for the second part of the family synod to be held in October.
German respondents criticised the questionnaire for presenting an idealised image of the family that does not relate to the family as it exists in German society. Many commented that the image of marriage and the family presented in the document puts German Catholics off sacramental church marriage.
German Catholics who answered the questionnaire were not happy with the Church’s current teaching about remarried divorcees, ‘mixed’ marriages and civil marriages and expect concrete changes from the Church concerning all three.
German Catholics want remarried divorcees to be allowed to receive the Sacraments under certain conditions. “The expectation that the synod will open new pastoral possibilities is very high,” the bishops say.
10,000 French replies
Over 10,000 French people replied to the Vatican survey for October’s synod on the family. Archbishop Pierre-Marie Carré, vice president of the bishops’ conference, said many respondents want the Church to both continue promoting its ideal but also to show more mercy and less judgement towards divorced and remarried people. A minority want the Church to uphold its traditional teaching about marriage.
A survey by La Croix newspapershowed a majority in favour of more Church acceptance of divorced and remarried Catholics.
US priests for tradition
Fr Daniel O’Mullane of the Paterson, New Jersey diocese, US, said after just a one-week campaign, over 400 US Catholic priests have signed a statement urging the synod of bishops to “make a clear and firm proclamation of the Church’s unchanging moral teaching” on marriage.
This declaration follows a similar statement made by over 450 priests in England and Wales. These priests are urging a clear re-statement of Church teaching, “so that confusion may be removed”, and pledge their own “unwavering fidelity” to the Church’s teaching.
France still waiting
The French government has not received an official Vatican response about its proposed ambassador. This contrasts with the reports in the media that the Vatican had refused the candidate because he is gay.
According to French Catholic news agency I.Media, the Pope and Laurent Stefanini, the proposed ambassador, had a 40-minute private meeting at the Domus Sanctae Marthae on April 17, during which they spoke and prayed together.
Pope: ‘Give spiritual attention to poor’
Pope Francis said “careful spiritual attention” must be given to the poorest in society. He was addressing the bishops of Namibia and Lesotho, who were in Rome for a joint ‘ad limina’ visit. Statistics show that the Church is flourishing in both countries.
The Pope said he recognised the many daily challenges faced by the people of southern Africa and said he thinks “particularly of those suffering with HIV and AIDS” and of families “fragmented due to employment far from home” and divorce. The Pope exhorted the bishops to bring “the tenderness of Christ where threats to human life occur, from the womb to old age”, to strengthen the faithful “in love to overcome selfishness in private or public life”, to offer families “help and guidance” and to be of “fresh resolve” in marriage preparation.
(Compiled by Fr Joe Borg)