Posts Tagged synod of bishops
Vatican Document for Synod on Family Balances Mercy and Cultural Blame / National Catholic Reporter
Posted by Voice of the Faithful in Future of the Church, Vatican, Voice of the Faithful on June 26, 2014
Struggles faced by faithful around the world in following Catholic teachings stem mainly from ineffective education in those teachings and the pervasive effect of a relativistic culture, states the guiding document for an upcoming Synod of Bishops on the family.
“The document, anticipated by many Catholics as a barometer for what to expect from the synod, also strongly reinforces church teachings regarding the indissolubility of marriage, the restriction of marriage to heterosexual couples, and that partners must be open to having children.
“At the same time, the document states, the church must respond with mercy to the struggles of families to adhere to sometimes controversial teachings — like those prohibiting divorce and remarriage, contraception, cohabitation, and same-sex marriage — and ‘support her children on the path of reconciliation.’
“Released by the Vatican on Thursday, the document was prepared for an extraordinary Synod of Bishops to be held in October. Called by Pope Francis last year, the 2014 synod is the first of two back-to-back yearly meetings of the world’s Catholic bishops at the Vatican on the theme of ‘pastoral challenges of the family in the context of evangelization.’”
By Joshua J. McElwee, National Catholic Reporter — Click here to read the rest of this story.
Underreported Survey Responses for Synod on the Family a Valuable Tool for Vatican / National Catholic Reporter
Posted by Voice of the Faithful in Catholic Bishops, Future of the Church, Vatican, Voice of the Faithful on June 19, 2014
Last week, Archbishop Joseph Kurtz of Louisville, Ky., president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, reported on survey responses from U.S. dioceses in preparation for October’s first session of the Synod of Bishops on the family. Kurtz’s report was underwhelming at best …
“There is no real dialogue here, no real listening, only the assumption that Catholics will change their minds if bishops talk louder and longer …
“One large national survey that went mostly unnoticed by the media is worth discussing here because it provided an opportunity for Catholics from anywhere in the U.S. to give feedback, not only those in the 72 U.S. dioceses out of 195 that offered online surveys. Conducted in November and December by 15 progressive Catholic organizations, the survey reports on 16,582 respondents from across the United States …”
By Christine Schenk, National Catholic Reporter — Click here to read the rest of this column.
Voice of the Faithful® was among the progressive Catholic organizations supporting this survey.
Studies Provide Insight on Synod Questions / National Catholic Reporter
Posted by Voice of the Faithful in Vatican, Voice of the Faithful on December 13, 2013
Amid the scramble to gather new data ahead of next October’s synod on the family, a question arises: Will church officials incorporate the wealth of insights collected in recent decades by researchers inside and outside the U.S. church?
“In late October, the Vatican sent to national bishops’ conferences a preparatory document and questionnaire for the 2014 Synod of Bishops on the family with the directive to circulate them ‘as widely as possible.’ The questions ask about topics like knowledge and acceptance of church teachings, family transference of the faith, marital issues (including natural law, divorce/annulments, and same-sex unions), and contraception.
“Much attention has focused on how various bishops and dioceses would distribute the questionnaire, which NCR made public, and gather responses. While reform groups and lay organizations have joined the data collection push, valid research from social scientists already provides brushstrokes toward a portrait of the modern American Catholic family.” By Brian Roewe, National Catholic Reporter
Click here to read the rest of Roewe’s article.
Lay Groups Launch Surveys to Answer Vatican Questionnaire / National Catholic Reporter
Posted by Voice of the Faithful in Catholic Bishops, Vatican, Voice of the Faithful on November 18, 2013
While U.S. bishops consider how best and how broad to collect information ahead of a 2014 global bishops’ meeting on family issues, several lay Catholic groups took the task into their own hands. In mid-November, a coalition of 15 church reform groups (including Voice of the Faithful) — primarily members of Catholic Organizations for Renewal — created an online survey for U.S. Catholics to offer their thoughts on the preparatory document to the 2014 Synod of Bishops, which will focus on the theme of ‘pastoral challenges to the family in the context of evangelization.’” By Brian Roewe, National Catholic Reporter
Read the rest of Roewe’s report by clicking here.
Additional information on gathering input from the faithful in preparation for past synods can be found in NCR’s Joshua McElwee’s article “Experts: Wide-Range Listening for Synods a Massive Undertaking.” Click here to read the article.
Vatican Asks for Parish-Level Input on Synod Document / National Catholic Reporter
Posted by Voice of the Faithful in Catholic Bishops, Vatican, Voice of the Faithful on November 1, 2013
Will bishops in the United States truly poll local Catholics to seek input from the People of God in Vatican II’s spirit of collegiality? Here from National Catholic Reporter’s Joshua McElwee is an outline of what the Vatican has asked local bishops to do and differences between how U.S. and other countries might conduct the poll:
The Vatican has asked national bishops’ conferences around the world to conduct a wide-ranging poll of Catholics asking for their opinions on church teachings on contraception, same-sex marriage and divorce.
“Archbishop Lorenzo Baldisseri, secretary general of the Vatican’s Synod of Bishops, asked the conferences to distribute the poll ‘immediately as widely as possible to deaneries and parishes so that input from local sources can be received.’
“The poll, which comes in a questionnaire sent to national bishops’ conferences globally in preparation for a Vatican synod on the family next October, is the first time the church’s central hierarchy has asked for such input from grass-roots Catholics since at least the establishment of the synod system following the Second Vatican Council.”
Added emphasis is ours. Read all of McElwee’s article by clicking here.
Bishop asks how ‘new evangelization’ applies to clergy sexual abuse survivors
Posted by Voice of the Faithful in Catholic Bishops, Vatican, Voice of the Faithful on October 18, 2012
As the thirteenth ordinary general assembly of the synod of bishops continues in Rome, the bishop of Antigonish, Canada, asks, “How do we evangelize those who have been deeply hurt by clergy who have been involved in sexual abuse?” The following is a summary of his remarks from the synod’s press bulletin on the Vatican’s website —
Thirteenth Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops
Oct. 15, 2012
“The New Evangelization for the Transmission of the Christian Faith”
– H. Exc. Rev. Mons. Brian Joseph DUNN, Bishop of Antigonish (CANADA)
How do we evangelize those who have been deeply hurt by clergy who have been involved in sexual abuse? Jesus dealt with those who were disillusioned by listening attentively to the stories of the disciples and leading them to a new awareness of his presence. This example of Jesus shows that the new evangelization, which must happen in the midst of the sexual abuse crisis, occurs in at least four different ways.
Provide real opportunities of listening and discerning together to appreciate the depth of hurt, anger and disillusionment associated with this scandal. This listening ministry could become a part of every diocese in the form of an office of mediation where people could bring their hurts and seek appropriate reconciliation.
Consider the reasons why this crisis has happened. Put into place measures which will create safe environments for children and all who are vulnerable in the faith community.
A spirituality of communion must permeate all relationships and structures within our parishes and local churches, through a consultation that brings people together, acknowledges the presence of God’s Spirit working in the members of the community and assists in responding to those who feel that their voice is never heard in the Church.
Support co-responsibility by bringing change in certain structures of the Church and in the mentality, attitude and heart in the ways of working closely with lay persons. These changes could include the appointment of pastoral teams consisting of clergy and laity, an official reflection on and recognition of lay ecclesial ministers, a deliberate and systematic involvement and leadership of women at all levels of Church life, e.g., permitting women to be instituted as lectors and acolytes and the institution of the ministry of catechist.
When this happens, the Gospel will be heard anew, our faith will be passed on more effectively, we will be renewed in our faith and our witness will become more authentic in our contemporary world.
Voice of the Faithful
A lay movement for governance reform in the Roman Catholic Church, responding to the clergy sexual abuse scandal and supporting survivors.
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