There are intriguing suggestions emerging that the Extraordinary on the Family could introduce more sympathetic new norms for the pastoral approach to gay and lesbian couples in the Catholic Church.
The lead - in paragraph to a report at Vatican Insider states
Mgr. Forte called for respect for gay people and reiterated that the Church excludes no one. The laboratory of Francis’ Church of dialogue consults the laity on the great challenges ahead
We must be absolutely clear that there is no intention at all that this synod will in any way change doctrine, as Mgr. Lorenzo Baldisseri, secretary to the Synod, has stressed. (However, we should always be mindful of the law of unintended consequences. I am convinced that one unintended consequence could be recognition that the doctrine on artificial contraception needs to be rethought. That, in turn, will lead to a more comprehensive review of all sexual theology, in the longer term. But that’s later).
What will certainly be up for serious discussion, will be all matters relating to pastoral approach. Initial reports about the planned Synod focussed on matters of divorce, but it’s become clear that the scope will be far more wide - ranging. There will also be extensive contributions from the laity, both men and women, even if only indirectly. Last week, the Vatican introduced a global lay consultation process, and in this week’s press conference, we learn that there will be lay people “present” at the Synod. Although it will emphatically be a “Synod of Bishops, not a Synod of the laity”,
There will be lay people taking part in the meeting (“there will be many women too,” Baldisseri assured) and a range of topics will be discussed (“including incest,” Mgr. Bruno Forte observed).
Mgr.Forte is a special secretary to the Synod, and it his a part of his contribution that will be of greatest relevance for queer Catholic families.
One thing Francis is serious about is “respect for every human person and therefore for gay people as well. Naturally, the pastoral approach towards this world needs to be further examined, bearing the current challenges in mind. There is no set recipe.” This is why the Pope asks “bishops from all across the world for their help in finding ways to be more welcoming and understanding, whilst remaining faithful to a vision of the family that involves a man and a woman being united and procreating.”
This is “the core message the Church wishes to communicate about the family.” But this does not in any way mean that others should be discriminated against. It means announcing the Gospel and trying to see all situations in the context of the Gospel’s core message, which is respect for people’s conscience.”
The three topics most prominent among those to be discussed by the Synod will be pastoral responses to divorced and remarried Catholics, contraception, and same - sex marriage. Doctrine on both divorce and gay marriage will certainly not change, but it is widely expected that there will be a substantial shift in the approved pastoral approach to those who are divorced and remarried, arising from appreciation of the complexities of real - life situations. This could include, for instance, an end to the current rule that prohibits such people from taking communion (which in any case is widely disregarded in many parishes). If that is so, precisely the same pastoral approach to those who have married same - sex spouses. Gay marriage is clearly opposed by Church teaching, but to deny these couples full participation in the sacramental life of the church, or to exclude them from Church employment on that account, is contrary to the sentiments expressed (above) by Msgr Forte, that there should be respect for every person, and that nobody should be discriminated against.
What is common to all three primary topics to be discussed at the Synod, divorce, contraception, and gay marriage, is that large proportions of Catholics disagree in conscience with the authorized doctrine. This gives particular significance to Forte’s intriguing statement that Gospel’s core message, is respect for people’s conscience.
Logically, if the Synod really does take to heart the importance of these sentiments on respect for all, refusal to discriminate, and the primacy of conscience, there will inevitably be a sea - change in pastoral practice on the ground, for queer Catholics and their families. There will be no more justification for the appalling practices we have seen in some tragic examples in recent years, of Catholics being denied communion, or excluded from parish service and ministry, or losing their jobs because they have same - sex spouses, or excluded from Catholic schools because they have two moms or two dads.
Will the Synod in fact produce the logically obvious outcome? We shall have to wait and see, but given the many wonderful surprises already under Francis’ leadership, I’m optimistic.
Related articles
- Will the “Extraordinary Synod on the Family” Consider Queer Families?
- Pope Francis Consulting the Faithful on Marriage, Family - and Sexuality.
- “Extraordinary Synod on the Family” Panics the Catholic Right.
- “Messages in a Bottle” : Letters to the Pope (1), Kellie King
- Vatican Asks Bishops to Consult Laity on Same-Sex Marriage, Contraception, Divorce (newwaysministryblog.wordpress.com)
- Catholics to tackle the hard questions (theage.com.au)
- Global survey on family, gays, won’t change doctrine: Vatican (dailystar.com.lb)
- Vatican City continues to censure ‘Equal Rights for All’ including marriage equality (womennewsnetwork.net)
Absolutely NOT ! The American Conference of Bishops have already declared their opposition to ENDA - passed by the Senate yesterday - which specifically prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation in the workplace. The Church Authorities have already displayed a rabid anti-Christlike attitude to gay persons who have faithfully served as teachers, organists, etc. - even janitors - for failing to uphold catholic teachings by virtue of their very existence. Now to protect their feudal overlord of the workplace, they wish to impose their hateful treatment of LGBT persons on ALL USA employees. They no longer serve Christ - they no longer show obedience to the Pope (who has asked that they stop their homophobic stances) - they have lost the obedience of many Catholics - since in effect - they shepherd no one. They have become political lobbyists - using Church funds - our money - to advance religious objectives - bigotry - in the name of protecting the Faith. It is high time for TRUE AND REAL SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE - strip them of tax exempt status - this is the only action which will reign them in. Recall the pedophilia crisis in which legal statutes of limitations were used by the Bishops to protect “mammon” - casting aside compensation/psychological treatment of adults abused as children. They use secular laws arbitrarily. I no longer pay attention to the Bishops Conference in general - there are a few sincere Bishops - the rest are modern Pharisees. Namaste.
A Church that calls LGBT members intrinsically disordered will have nothing positive to say about said members.
Quite. In fairness, Cameli acknowledges the hurtful effect of the word, even describing it (accurately) as “toxic”, but then thinks he has healed the wound simply by explaining that the “theological” meaning differs from that in everyday speech, and simply refers to being not ordered to “God’s purpose” in creation, which is (he states) procreation. And then notes, but ignores, that others may believe that procreation may be only one, and not necessarily the primary, purpose. This contrary view, that there is at least one other purpose, and that procreation is not somehow the primary purpose, is completely consistent with the Magisterium, as John O’Donnell notes in another comment to this post.
I would think that procreation being the natural order should be obvious. It is kind of hard to design a continuing species solely on homosexuality.