http://www.cruxnow.com/church/2015/10/21/synod-dispute-over-communion-issue-rachets-up/?s_campaign=crux:socialflow:facebook Bishops’ dispute over Communion issue rachets up Cardinal Reinhard Marx of Munich-Freising, left, president of the German bishops' conference, joined other German bishops at a press conference at the Vatican after the opening session of the Synod of Bishops on the family at the Vatican Oct. 6. (CNS photo/Paul Haring) National reporter October 21, 2015 ROME — The dispute between conservative Cardinal George Pell of Australia and the more liberal German bishops broke out into the open Wednesday, with the Germans saying they felt “dismay and sadness” that Pell had fostered division in the synod with his recent public remarks. The German bishops favor a proposal put forth by German Cardinal Walter Kasper to allow divorced Catholics who remarried without an annulment of their first marriage to receive Communion, as determined on a case-by-case basis. Pell and other conservatives oppose the idea, fearing it will dilute the Church’s teaching that marriage is indissoluble. German Cardinal Reinhard Marx said Pell’s recent remarks that set up the disagreement as a battle between supporters of Kasper and followers of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI was unhelpful and “contradicts the spirit of cooperation.” Advertisement Late Wednesday in Rome, a spokesman for Cardinal Pell told Crux he was “delighted to learn that Marx has explained that there’s no contrast between the Kasper camp and Benedict XVI,” calling it “a welcome surprise.” The spokesman said Pell added that “everyone was awaiting the recommendations on the synod to the Holy Father with some interest.” The spat came in the context of the release of reports from the synod’s small-group sessions, clusters of bishops organized by language that discussed issues related to family life. An English-language group led by Irish Archbishop Eamon Martin summed up the general findings of the entire body: division on hot-button issues. On the Communion for divorced Catholics issue, “the vote was evenly divided,” the group reported. Regarding pastoral support to gay and lesbian Catholics, the “group was also divided.” Other reports also say that the small groups remain unable to find general consensus on several areas, with just three days before the 270 bishops gathered in Rome are expected to vote on a final document that will then be sent for consideration to Pope Francis — who holds the only vote that matters. During the course of the synod, one notion put forward by several bishops, from both the left and right, is to soften language the Church uses about gays, the divorced, and even couples living together outside of marriage. But ideas about how to do that remain elusive. Another English-language group, led by Pell, for example, said any changes in language must make “the Church’s teaching more comprehensible and accessible.” But that same report, in sections about homosexuality, used phrases some gay Catholics say are antiquated and offensive, such as “persons with homosexual tendencies” and “a person with same-sex attraction.” An Italian-speaking group led by Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco called for “direct pastoral attention” to families with gay and lesbian members. At the same time, however, the group condemned “unjustified economic-legislative pressure for introducing laws treating civil unions as equivalent to marriage.” A German-speaking group, led by Austrian Cardinal Chistoph Schonborn, wrote that when upholding Church doctrine, ministry has sometimes been “harsh” and “merciless,” especially toward single mothers, gays and lesbians, couples cohabiting, and the divorced and remarried. “We ask these people for forgiveness,” the report states. Speaking at a press conference, Marx said that all the members of the group voted in favor of proposals in their report. In the German-speaking group is both the Church’s doctrinal czar, Cardinal Gerhard Muller, as well as Kasper, who is pushing for changes on the Communion issue. Marx said the German bishops favor easing the Communion rule because of questions they get from young people before marriage: “Will you stay with us when we fail?” “We have to say yes, we will stay with you when you fail,” he said. The German-speaking group suggested that these issues be addressed through what the Church dubs the internal forum, rather than through the traditional method of annulments that requires documentation and public testimony from the parties involved. Certain cases, the bishops suggested, could be judged behind closed doors, and require the level of confidentiality normally reserved for confession. When it comes to the synod’s conclusion, some bishops said concrete action must follow. A Spanish-language group led by Honduran Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga said the synod must produce more than “nice words.” “We have to propose a generous movement, removing many obstacles from the path so that the divorced and remarried can participate more fully in the life of the Church,” the group said. “They can’t be godparents, they can’t be catechists, they can’t teach religion.” “We need to show that we’ve heard the ‘cry’ of so many people who suffer and cry out, asking to participate as fully as possible in the life of Church,” it continued. That sentiment was also shared by Bagnasco’s group, which called for “removing some forms of liturgical, educational, and pastoral exclusion that still exist.” Other groups appeared to reject the notion of opening up the sacrament. The group led by Pell, for example, wrote that while it supports the pope’s efforts to streamline the annulment process, “the majority without full consensus affirmed the current teaching and practice of the Church.” At least two groups suggested the creation of a commission to study the question of Communion for divorced and remarried Catholics, and one group proposed holding a synod specifically about homosexuality. On Tuesday, bishops listened to a fiery speech from Moscow Patriarch Hilarion, who implied support for Kentucky clerk Kim Davis, who was jailed for refusing to comply with a court order to issue marriage licenses, citing her personal opposition to same-sex marriage. Davis’ supporters say she was jailed because her beliefs, and some synod bishops expressed support for the idea of conscientious objection, although they did not cite her case specifically. An Italian group led by Cardinal Franceso Montenegro said it affirms “the right to conscientious objection in a context like today, where public authorities try to limit it on the basis of a presumed common good.” The 10 clerics chosen by Pope Francis to summarize the synod’s thoughts into a single document will present a draft to bishops Thursday, who will then debate the text and submit revisions before a final vote on Saturday.
Marx said the German bishops favor easing the Communion rule because of questions they get from young people before marriage: “Will you stay with us when we fail?” “We have to say yes, we will stay with you when you fail,” he said. This is pathetic.
I dont think the church will change anything regarding the homosexuals. All smoke and mirrors. When the church takes a strong stance on this ,most will be clapping that truth has been upheld, while pastoral changes to the divorced and remarried get by unnoticed which was always the goal from the get go.
I can only believe that pastoral changes for divorced and remarried will take the form of encouraging them to keep coming to mass and encouraging Catholucs to be less judgmental of them. Do you have any divorced and remarried in your mass attendees? How are they treated? Could they be treated better? Of course they cannot receive without some radical reform of their lives. The changes hopefully will help them repent meaningfully, help them come home in grace, not sin. Have you guys any suggestions how you can treat them better?
The language of the progressive Bishops is the same language that liberals in politics have used to change the culture of death and confusion we now live in. Lord have mercy on these Bishops and Cardinals who want to call darkness light and light darkness...evil good and good evil. Compassion is not using language that makes Satan happy. The salt of many clergy has gone flat.
Being orthodox or faithful to the Churches teaches would be better language, but liberalism or progressivism means not holding to a set of principles that govern church or society. Liberalism is free thinkin where there is no such thing as objective truth or absolutes.
I hate to admit this but the labels liberal and conservative which used to only be used in secular politics now apply to Church "politics". The Church has always had factions with differing viewpoints but it is becoming much more of a problem now. The "liberal" faction has sided with the world. Their writings seldom include anything about the spiritual nature of things, but focus on worldly matters and how to water down Church teachings so they will be "liked" by others. The "conservatives" wish to maintain the purity of Catholic teaching even when it is at variance with the world. They are concerned with the spiritual nature of things as well as the worldly. It is sad that it has become this way, but it is true. The Church by it's very nature cannot be "progressive" because to do so means to change with the times and that is against the very reason for the Church which is to preserve Christs teaching unadulterated.
So, in my early years, i spent time with a very traditional order...lots of prayer, lots of work and more prayer. All are educated in Rome and work as teachers in the United States. They still do Latin rite and gregorian chant. The parishoners were viels and everyone is taught to be a saint. My point Many people including priest, think this order is a cult. But then again if you truly follow God...then we are a cult. The world is not our focus. Just strange how if one follows Gods Spirit...the world doesn't understand.
I have a question. If my catechism serves me correctly, two of the spiritual works of mercy are to: "instruct the ignorant" and "admonish the sinners". How are we to reconcile this with the modern language of 'who am I to judge' and the other language coming out of much of the synod? One of my favorite books read is called the Soul of the Apostolate by Jean-Baptiste Chautard (Pope Pius X beside book). It talks much about the corporal works of mercy and the spiritual works of mercy, clearly distinguishing that the spiritual works are of higher order. What changed today then that the spiritual works of mercy have taken a back seat to the corporal works? Many of them are not even talked about today and worse yet, scorned by the highest offices in the Church.
Once again Traditionalist Rorate Caeli is misrepresenting Pope Francis as saying all divorced will be admitted to communion. (I make a clear distinction here between Traditionalist and traditional. Traditional Catholics are true.)The Vatican has respnded by immediately denying the reliability of Scalfari's report. The Pope has always promoted repentance and remission before reception. The three 'r' s. Nothing has changed. If the annulment process can be validly revised this must be a good thing. The Traditionalists cannot have it both ways. If, as they say, contemporary catholics know nothing about the faith then their contracts are more vulnerable to be made in ignorance: they often sign up to a marriage that is non Christian, non Catholic, unreal in intention and execution, and therefore non binding in essence. Their marriages are faulty from the start, so faulty as to render their contract null and void. If this can be proved quicker then all the better. The divorced will have to come to the end of a pathway of repentance and regulation before being admitted in grace to communion. The Trads reject The Mercy of Francis and the steps he has taken to bring back sinners to God. I fear they will live to regret their rejection and opposition to Our Holy Father. I hope they will be shown the truth and be given time to repent.
I think the ball is still in the air as far as a lot of this is concerned. It might be better to see where it lands. I suspect the Holy Father himself is about to give it a good kick. We'll see.
I was at a catholic wedding this past week-end. The priest got up before mass and stated that Christ would encourage all to receive holy communion and so who is he not to. A well known ,rich ,likable,and multi- divorced scottish-rite freemason went up and received communion. I doubt our bishop would do anything and I have a feeling that this is where the pope is taking us. Vatican 2 all over again. Changes to church teaching through inaction by those people in charge of maintaining the faith. It feels good, but incredible defiance and rebellion.
I also don't like the way "conservatives" are being admonished as "pharasitical" for not going along with the changes that are proposed by the "left". I guess all the saints were pharasitical also.
This jus blows my mind as that would never fly at my church or the Diocese of Phoenix. Bishop and priests are so strong in the faith here. It just astonishes me when I hear things like this.
Unfortunately, this diocese, Chicago, just had Blaise Cupich appointed by Pope Francis as its new leader. I just hope he is not as bad as Bernadin was. He is also against people praying the rosary outside of abortion clinics , but aggressively supports the global warming scam and illegal immigration. Salvation of souls takes a second seat to social justice issues, back to the spirit of vatican 2.
I like your distinction between Traditionalism and traditional (I would also drop the capital letter). When one anoints oneself with an exclusive label one risks being on the way to creating an idol. I also agree that it would be most imprudent to condemn a pope on the word of an atheist. Let us hang him with his own rope, at least. Of course, let us continue to pray there will be no hanging offence.
