Posted on 11/05/2013 1:59:45 PM PST by IbJensen
Pope Francis is shaking things up again.
The pontiff with a penchant for surprises is making new waves by launching a survey of his flock on issues facing modern families — from gay marriage to divorce.
Very specific questions are being sent to parishes around the globe in preparation for next year's synod of bishops, a grassroots effort that experts say is unprecedented.
"It's fascinating," said Thomas Groome, a professor of theology at Boston College.
"It's pretty astonishing," agreed Marianne Duddy-Burke, executive director of the gay Catholic organization DignityUSA.
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Vatican watchers say Francis' polling attempt is extraordinary on two levels: first, because it seeks input from rank-and-file Roman Catholics and second, because it touches on issues that might have been considered off-limits in past papacies.
The document sent to every nation's conference of bishops notes that the ancient church and its members are grappling with "concerns which were unheard of until a few years ago."
Same-sex unions, mixed marriages, single-parent families and surrogate mothers are all mentioned in the prelude to a list of questions that get into the nitty-gritty of 21st century life: •"What pastoral attention can be given to people who live in these types of [same-sex] union?" •"In the case of unions of persons of the same sex who have adopted children, what can be done pastorally in light of transmitting the faith?" •"Do [the divorced and remarried] feel marginalized or suffer from the impossibility of receiving the sacraments?" •"In cases where non-practicing Catholics or declared non-believers request the celebration of marriage, describe how this pastoral challenge is dealt with."
The survey is the latest sign of Francis' willingness to engage ordinary Catholics and promote a less judgmental approach to hot-button social issues.
The Argentine Jesuit elected to the throne of St. Peter in March has drawn widespread praise — and some scattered criticism from conservatives — for his comments about gays, women, atheists and priestly celibacy.
There is nothing in the questionnaire that says he is planning any big changes, and a senior Vatican official said Tuesday that the church remains "loyal to the vision of the family where a man and a woman join together and procreate children."
But Fordham University theology chair Terrence Tilley said the questionnaire does suggest the church might tweak some policies that don't involve doctrine — such as denying the sacraments to Catholics who have divorced and remarried or opening the church to gay couples that want to raise adopted children Catholic.
"I think it demonstrates a grounding in the practical realities of the world," Duddy-Burke said, though she cautioned that the real test is if the Vatican agrees to hear from a diverse range of families at the actual synod.
Groome said it "remains to be seen" if the polling will translate into any action, but he's impressed nonetheless.
"To my knowledge, it's the first time in the history of the magisterium have genuinely attempted to consult the laity," he said.
"At least he's started the conversation," Groome said.
"All of these things have been closed issues and you could be fired for even talking about them. Raising these questions and polling people — it at least signals something other than a closed mind. You have to thank God for small mercies."
Jesus did not take polls.
This pope, who follows those subsequent to Pius XII, will continue the heresy of modernism.
This story has been completely debunked by the Vatican. It was reported by the leftist National “Catholic” Reporter. There is no such poll or survey. The Vatican has asked the Bishops and Cardinals how they are addressing the issues of homosexuality, divorce, etc. in their dioceses. They are not taking polls of the flock to see who agrees or disagrees with Church teaching.
I see that you are a fallen away Catholic. I hope at some point you will reutrn to the Holy Mother Church.
The story has already been said by the Vatican to be completely false. Typical of NBC to pick it up without doing any fact checking at all.
Maybe we will see a mass excommunication.
I am not Catholic but have respect for the Church and for the Pope. Francis needs to address these issues; they cannot be ignored because they are a corrosive acid eating away at the foundations of our faith and all of our civilization. I pray that he finds guidance from the Holy Spirit to lead his flock back from the heresies that abound in our fallen world.
Not too strange. They are still running interference for Obama without even a need to fact check since der Fuhrer gave them the info right from his own lips.
It’s clear that Pope Francis isn’t “taking a poll” in any political sense. However, the upcoming Synod can’t address issues regarding the family unless they know the status of things in the dioceses.
They need to know what the biggest problems are. Is it casual divorce? Is it failure to raise children in the Faith? Is it nonmarital cohabitation and parenthood? They have a limited time to spend, and they need to know what specific issues to address in detail.
Are they going to take a vote on which of the Ten Commandments, if any, should be kept?
I just saw it on Fox News. They said it was being done in preparation for a seminar or something having to do with the family. Please don't defend heresy.
I pray that he finds guidance from the Holy Spirit to lead his flock back from the heresies that abound in our fallen world.
***
This Catholic joins in your wonderful prayer. Thank you.
You're right, you're not a Catholic. The Pope does not "need" to do anything. Catholics are Catholics because they obey, not only in conduct, but in meaning. If they have thoughts of their own, they can have those thoughts as long as they are approved by the church. That's Catholicism in a nutshell - total obedience in mind, body and heart.
And to see what that's like in the real world, discuss a spiritual issue with a Catholic that you have worked out for yourself, and feel right about with God, that differs from Catholic teaching. Or - study history, especially Catholic history, and come to a determination that differs from Catholic teaching. A Catholic will not disagree with your conclusion and belief. They will disagree with you arrogating the power of personal thought to yourself, without approval of the Church.
And if you point all this out to a Catholic, they will deny the totalitarian control, even though you might cite their own Catechism to them to support it. Do you know why they deny it? Because they are told by the Church that their mind control is freedom. And so to them, denying the existence of something they are simultaneously obeying in thought, word and deed is not only not hypocrisy - it is literally, for them, truth itself, because it is authorized by the Church.
People talk about "Catholic" this, and "Catholic" that, and I laugh. They have NO idea what they are talking about.
Is Tao Te Ching Christian?
That’s next.
The New Progressive Catholic Church now treats the Ten Commandments like a buffet. Take what you want to believe in and leave the rest.
No longer is there differentiation between true believers and ‘let’s pretend that what we do is honorable’ types. Homosexuality is just another lifestyle to be honored, pedestalized and allowed to propagate within the NPCC and in society at large.
A new religion was created subsequent to the modernist Vatican II confab. Everything of value was tossed. Proof of this is where one finds the Tabernacle housing the Body of Christ, girl altar boys, priests praying to those gathered.
Watch the poor, deluded congregants as they enter the ‘building’. They genuflect to the table which has replaced a proper altar. Either they can’t see a Tabernacle, or they think the table is the real article.
I am a practical, practicing Catholic who worships according to the Latin Rite. Catholics (small c) are deluding themselves when they believe that what happened subsequent to Vatican II was proper. All ‘popes’ since Pius XII blew an opportunity to save the Roman Catholic Church, but did nothing except further this new religion.
Holy Mother Church is now a gathering place for sinners to ‘feel good about themselves’ and those confused enough to believe that whatever regurgitates forth from Rome is the Right Stuff.
All the radical changes were forced in order to ‘modernize’ the Catholic Church. Tradition be damned as their thoughts, apparently encouraged by Lucifer, were to drag our Savior’s Church on Earth through the mire of secularism.
Dominus Vobiscum!
Oh. I see.
Francis is polling the clergy.
Polling is polling.
What part of the Declaration of Independence or the Constitution is in the Bible?
Go on, quote it to me, chapter and verse.
Grow up.
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