That's what I'm afraid of. The findings of the Birth Control Commission were leaked years before Humanae Vitae was published, leading the Church to believe the teaching was going to change. Believing it was going to change, laity changed their behaviors and priests condoned it in the confessional. Then by the time Humanae Vitae was published the dissent was institutionalized and the teaching rejected by the vast majority of Catholics.
Now we have equivocal language on communion for the divorced and remarriage and tolerance for civil unions.
Even if the Synod manages to maintain orthodoxy on these issues (a matter of real concern given Pope Francis' praise of Cardinal Kasper's recent heterodox statements on divorce and remarriage and this equivocal statement of Pope Francis on civil unions compared to Ratzinger's crystal clear statements in this thread) the expectation of change will drive behavior and belief.
This is a train wreck and no Catholic who expresses grave concern over this train wreck should be denigrated or castigated for expressing concern. These concerns are not groundless. Its not all just media spin. I am gravely concerned about this upcoming Synod.
You're absolutely right and I don't pretend otherwise.
But there is a big difference between expressing concern and taking up a de facto sedevacanist position. I have seen things in the past year that have utterly shocked me (and I am not easily shocked).
Frankly, this hasn't come out of nowhere. The chickens spoken about by Gregory XVI (Mirari Vos), Pius IX (Quanta Cura and the Syllabus of Errors), Leo XIII (Testem Benevolentiae Nostrae), and Pius X (Paschendi) are coming home to roost, as it were.
One of my brothers (divorced and civilly remarried) has already succumbed to the terrible confusion emanating from Rome. He receives Holy Communion in front of his children in an objective state of mortal sin. This is the fruit of the mealy-mouthed faux mercy message that many in the Papal Fan Club are so impressed by. Truth and mercy cannot be separated, and the confusion caused by the equivocal statements from Pope Francis, Kasper, Maradiaga, et al is destructive, not merciful.
This is a train wreck and no Catholic who expresses grave concern over this train wreck should be denigrated or castigated for expressing concern. These concerns are not groundless
There seems to be a lack of understanding in some quarters regarding papal impeccability and regarding the right of the laity to express opinions in relation to the actions of popes or bishops or priests. I suspect that those who are most offended when others express concerns or point out unpleasant realities have not themselves been negatively impacted by clergy (who are, after all, only human). Some people might not understand that the pope is not above all question or criticism.
I am gravely concerned about this upcoming Synod.
I believe your concerns are valid.
"In a sense" it hardly matters whether the teaching changes in the Catechism, as long as masses of laity and clergy are misled in practice. It becomes a dead letter, like HV. The devil is active here.