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Family synod: Mid-Term Report is Hailed as a ‘Pastoral Earthquake’
The Catholic Herald (UK) ^ | 10/13/14 | Mark Greaves

Posted on 10/13/2014 6:21:40 AM PDT by marshmallow

A document summing up the synod so far has been described as a “pastoral earthquake” by a leading Vatican commentator.

The document, called the relatio post disceptationem, was read aloud in the synod hall this morning. It has been drafted by synod fathers selected by Pope Francis and can be read in full here.

The document calls on the Church to build on the “positive aspects” of relationships that are deemed irregular – such as between remarried couples or same-sex partners – and keep the “doors always wide open” to people in those relationships.

The relatio says that the Church reaching out to divorced Catholics does not represent a “weakening of its faith” but an exercise of charity.

The document cites calls by many synod participants to speed up the annulment process.

Regarding people who are gay, the document says: “Homosexuals have gifts and qualities to offer to the Christian community. Are we capable of welcoming these people, guaranteeing to them a fraternal space in our communities? Often they wish to encounter a church that offers them a welcoming home. Are our communities capable of providing that, accepting and valuing their sexual orientation, without compromising Catholic doctrine on the family and matrimony?

“Without denying the moral problems connected to homosexual unions, it has to be noted that there are cases in which mutual aid to the point of sacrifice constitutes a precious support in the life of the partners.”

The document also emphasises the “principle of graduality”, the idea that Catholics move towards full acceptance of Church teaching in steps, and that the Church needs to accompany them with patience and understanding.

It speaks of “accepting the reality of civil marriage and also cohabitation”, noting that such unions can reach “a notable level of stability through a public....

(Excerpt) Read more at catholicherald.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Catholic; Ministry/Outreach; Moral Issues; Theology
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1 posted on 10/13/2014 6:21:40 AM PDT by marshmallow
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To: marshmallow

May as well reach out to unrepentant, practising serial killers and bank robbers. What’s the difference?

Sin is sin.


2 posted on 10/13/2014 6:35:58 AM PDT by Westbrook (Children do not divide your love, they multiply it.)
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To: marshmallow

Are our communities capable of providing that, accepting and valuing their sexual orientation, without compromising Catholic doctrine on the family and matrimony?


A question worthy of thought..........................

Human perspective, yes.

God’s perspective, no.

The touch stone is not our way of thinking but Gods.


3 posted on 10/13/2014 6:36:33 AM PDT by PeterPrinciple
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To: Westbrook

Bottom line: Snyod urges Church to conform to the world.


4 posted on 10/13/2014 6:41:12 AM PDT by circlecity
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To: marshmallow

Have not gone to Mass since a Jesuit priest referred to anti abortion folks as insensitive and said a Marine Colonel’s desire to become a Colonel was bad. I walked out and will not return, my wife suggested we attend Mass on the Base, I will not go into a Base Chapel, they are used for homosexual weddings. This is the demise of the Catholic Church instead of being a beacon of traditional religious values it now embraces the very things that are destroying other churches. I am a Missouri Synod Lutheran, they are holding their ground on traditional faith. But my wife will not go to Lutheran Chuch with me. Why are the Roman Catholics willing to drive people away for less than 2% of the worlds population?


5 posted on 10/13/2014 6:41:15 AM PDT by OldGoatCPO
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To: Westbrook

We are Church of saints and sinners.

Jesus spent time and effort with sinners without condoning their sin.

Why shouldn’t the Catholic Church accept all sinners and saints, but not condone their sins, and show by example the Love of God for all?

Where is the best place for changing sinners into saints? It should be through the community of the faithful.

Why do we consider our sins are more acceptable than the sins of others?

We should allow God to judge all of us as he has told us in the Bible.

I am more concerned about the many who will not see Heaven.


6 posted on 10/13/2014 6:55:30 AM PDT by ADSUM
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To: OldGoatCPO
You can come back at any time. Just because one preist or one church has turned the abysmal corner doesn't mean the entire church has.

Coming Home Network

7 posted on 10/13/2014 6:56:54 AM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: ADSUM

Jesus also told them to stop sinning.

Not seeing that here, just warm, fuzzy, liberal claptrap.


8 posted on 10/13/2014 6:59:13 AM PDT by Gamecock (USA, Ret.)
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To: marshmallow
I go to Mass daily and receive communion. I've come to feel that Mass WITHOUT communion is almost a waste of time. That IS what we go for, mainly.
So for the divorced and homosexuals, Mass for them is empty--that is, without the Eucharist. Why go and not be able to participate?
9 posted on 10/13/2014 7:06:04 AM PDT by cloudmountain
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To: marshmallow
accepting and valuing their sexual orientation, without compromising Catholic doctrine

Totally impossible

A church that wants to accept and value SIN.

10 posted on 10/13/2014 7:06:42 AM PDT by GeronL (Vote for Conservatives not for Republicans)
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To: marshmallow
Homosexuals have gifts and qualities to offer to the Christian community.

Let's list them, shall we!

Vengeance. Fire. Brimstone. Pillars of salt.

11 posted on 10/13/2014 7:07:04 AM PDT by Claud
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To: ADSUM

Yes, but will the church tell them that what they are doing is sin? Or will it give them communion and accept them as brethren?


12 posted on 10/13/2014 7:08:25 AM PDT by Westbrook (Children do not divide your love, they multiply it.)
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To: OldGoatCPO

One Jesuit priest is not the Catholic church.

We are a church of saints and sinners.

Even with all the human faults that we all share, the Catholic church established by Jesus still follows the teachings of Jesus and we attempt to follow the path of Jesus as best we can.

Should the Catholic church not welcome all sinners with the hope that they will become saints through the graces from God?


13 posted on 10/13/2014 7:08:39 AM PDT by ADSUM
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To: cloudmountain

> Why go and not be able to participate?

The answer is in the question.

At least on the part of sodomites, once the church receives them as brethren, the church will be forced to allow them full participation. You watch.


14 posted on 10/13/2014 7:09:57 AM PDT by Westbrook (Children do not divide your love, they multiply it.)
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To: OldGoatCPO
You discard the ENTIRE Catholic faith because of a couple of comments ONE priest made?
Guess you aren't a Catholic and are better off with the the church of Martin Luther. He has a FAITH named after him, after all. You are a LUTHERAN.

Kudos to your wife for holding onto the faith of her fathers...and not abandoning an ENTIRE FAITH because of ONE comment made by a priest.

She's the mature one. YOU are behaving like a big, fat, spoiled BABY. Grow up, OldGoat.

15 posted on 10/13/2014 7:10:54 AM PDT by cloudmountain
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To: ADSUM
Why shouldn’t the Catholic Church accept all sinners and saints, but not condone their sins, and show by example the Love of God for all?

Read again: "accepting and valuing their sexual orientation"

Not condoning sin doesn't appear to be the idea here. What you say is correct: the Church is made up of sinners by nature, but to "accept and value" sin defeats the purpose and denies the Redeemer.

16 posted on 10/13/2014 7:11:12 AM PDT by Colonel_Flagg ("Compromise" means you've already decided you lost.)
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To: cloudmountain
I've come to feel that Mass WITHOUT communion is almost a waste of time.

And here you are wrong. Even without Communion you are participating in the one sacrifice of the Cross made present. Neither Mary nor John received Communion at the foot of the Cross yet their love for Jesus united them with him. Many of the saints throughout the ages have valued the Mass without having received Communion each time they went. As for divorced and homosexuals, their placing their own self-love over the the love of God separates them from Him despite the reception of Communion.

17 posted on 10/13/2014 7:14:51 AM PDT by Petrosius
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To: ADSUM
Jesus spent time and effort with sinners without condoning their sin.

Nice how you left out the part where Jesus also commanded them to "go and sin NO MORE."

Yes, Jesus "hung out" with the sinners rather than the rabbi's and the faithful. He did so to set the example of how they should live while commanding them to sin no more.

The homosexual agenda isn't about "going and sinning no more." It's all about "normalizing" their abhorrent behavior and that IMO is something that's completely contradictory to Jesus' commandment to "go and sin no more."

You might want to check your understanding of God's word next time before posting. At least cite the entire scripture rather than just the parts you agree with.

18 posted on 10/13/2014 7:15:02 AM PDT by usconservative (When The Ballot Box No Longer Counts, The Ammunition Box Does. (What's In Your Ammo Box?))
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To: Westbrook
The answer is in the question. At least on the part of sodomites, once the church receives them as brethren, the church will be forced to allow them full participation. You watch.

NOT SO. The Church won't change. The Church hasn't been FORCED to do anything by the most powerful families in the world so it's foolish to think that a group of homosexuals will FORCE them to change SIN into NOT-SIN.

However, the homosexuals, BOTH male and female, MIGHT go to Holy Communion in their state of sin. Why would ALL/ANY priests SOMEHOW know that those particular men and women are in the state of sin? Priests are not mind readers.

Christ wanted ALL people to be received as brothers but they are told to "sin no more." Whether they do so or not isn't under anyone's control but their own FREE WILL. But to shun the sinners isn't Christian.

19 posted on 10/13/2014 7:17:04 AM PDT by cloudmountain
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To: Westbrook

Yes. The Catholic church is very clear on sins. The Catholic Catechism provides the teachings of the Church.

Why are you so concerned to judge the sins of others or the actions of others in the Catholic Church? Are your sins public and subject to scrutiny? Should we not follow Jesus teachings of Loving God and our neighbor as our self?


20 posted on 10/13/2014 7:20:11 AM PDT by ADSUM
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