This last week was the completion of the first of two weeks of discussions in Rome at the Catholic Synod on the Family. This is a preliminary meeting for next year’s scheduled synod. Never in recent memory have I seen the mainstream media so interested in a Catholic synod. It was surprising to me because many times Catholic news entities don’t even cover synods in depth, mainly just a few blurbs or segments. However, this meeting in Rome had a hot button issue that garnered the mainstream media’s attention. That hot button issue is of course same sex marriage. When the Vatican released “RELATIO” the language therein as the media read it was that the Catholic Church has softened it views on homosexuality and gay marriage. The media made this Relatio (summary) out to be an Earth shattering event that will rock the Church to its core. This is evident in the hyper reaction to the Relatio’s release as shown here in the New York Times article.
Like in so many things, politics come into the picture and key issues are split up into liberal and conservative thought and issues in regard to the Church are no different as the media sees it. The Church’s existence is not to be politically correct or politically incorrect but rather to save souls. Anyone that reads Scripture understands that Jesus dined with the worst of sinners and shared Divine wisdom and truths in His parables to gradually bring them to salvation and following His path. This is the intention of the synod and of their release of this summary. Compassion and acceptance have always been a part of the Catholic Church and is a part of the Catechism and is documented in CCC paragraph 2358 in regard to the gay lifestyle. Accepting the sinner and showing them compassion is not accepting the sin. Jesus in Matthew 19 1-12 teaches us of marriage and what it means to the Father. Jesus showed compassion and acceptance to the sinner but did not say on His sermon on the mount “Come one! Come all! It doesn’t matter what you do! It’s all relative anyway!” The Catholic Church is not saying that or about to say that either. Do the media think the Church will change the teachings of Jesus’ on marriage and twist them to fit a political agenda? A political agenda to the Most High is like ash or dust in the wind. It means nothing. It would do the media well to set aside the political lens and actually read and understand what is being said and what is taking place.
The first week of this synod on the family (contrary to media) was about much more than same sex marriage. There were couples from all walks of life brought in to tell the 185 bishops, lay people, and clergy about the beauty of their marriage and the troubles they face within the family. Also a crucial family destroying issues in regard to Africa were discussed. Over 186 Churches have been burned to the ground. Hundreds of women, children, men and entire families have been slaughtered and torn apart. Many of these women and children have been sold into sex slavery. The synod is discussing what can be done and how to address such horrible attacks at the hands of Boko Haram. This first week was about pastoral challenges and these challenges have to do with shaping language and dialogue to address these issues. It’s finding a common truth that all can build upon.
The second half of the synod which is taking place now is where bishops and clergy discuss in groups the previous week and the Relatio. What was omitted? What was indeed discussed and not mentioned in the Relatio? They then at the end of the synod present Pope Francis (who has been present each day) with a new draft and he will comment on it or he may not. The end result of this synod and its findings will then be expanded upon in next year’s synod and then what was discussed may then be implemented into Catholic teaching.
It’s quite a process I must admit but in no way has any doctrine been changed. I find it preposterous and quite frankly irresponsible of media to assume anything of this synod than what it really is. When you have opinion columns telling these bishops and leaders what they should do like in this OPINION COLUMN I don’t even find it laughable, I find it embarrassing and shameful. This is an age old religion yes but has lasted the course of 2,000 years for a reason. The Church is not something that is to change its message to fit the times. The Church is something that changes its language to fit the times we live in so that all can understand its message. The truth is still there and it doesn’t change. George Weigel summed it up very well in this article from the NATIONAL REVIEW. So the synod continues as will the media desperately trying to push and prod the Vatican somewhere it has no intention of going.
