Obama tries
to fundamentally transform the USA while Pope Francis tries to fundamentally
transform the Catholic Church. Confusion and Fear Results.
Hundreds
of Priests in England and Wales urge Vatican Synod to end confusion over
Marriage and Sexuality
In a dramatic turn of
events, nearly 500 priests from England and Wales have written a letter in
defence of the ‘traditional teaching on marriage and human sexuality’ in
anticipation of the forthcoming Vatican Synod on the family. This letter comes
at a time when a growing number of Catholics are concerned that the gathering
of Church leaders in Rome, scheduled for October 2015, will seek to re-think Gospel
teaching on marriage, sexuality, repentance and grace. Some Cardinals,
particularly from Germany, have suggested that Holy Communion could be received
by those in second and non-marital unions, or that active homosexual
relationships could receive some positive recognition.
Despite the official
channels of representation set up by the dioceses of England and Wales, a high
proportion of the country’s priests felt the need to make their voices heard by
an extra-ordinary open letter, which speaks of a climate ‘of moral
confusion’ created by media coverage of the Synod and a lack of clarity
from official church leaders in stating the settled teaching of the Catholic
Church.
The large number of
signatories is surprising since the initiative came from increasingly concerned
laity and is not officially supported by any ecclesiastical body. One priest,
who asked to remain anonymous, said that there ‘has been a certain amount of
pressure not to sign the letter and indeed a degree of intimidation from some
senior churchmen’.
Another priest, when asked why such a large number of priests are so keen to sign the letter, said, ‘It’s a matter of pastoral concern and fidelity to the Gospel. Mercy requires both love and truth. There’s a lot at stake. Not all priests would be comfortable expressing themselves in an open letter, but I’d be very worried if there were priests who disagreed with the sentiments it contains’. The letter calls for fidelity to Catholic teaching, and that practice should remain ‘inseparably in harmony’ with doctrine. The priests state that they remain committed to helping ‘those who struggle to follow the Gospel in an increasingly secular society’, but imply that those couples and families who have remained faithful are not being adequately supported or encouraged.
There is a growing suspicion that the Synod will unleash division in the Church by attempting to re-shape Catholic teaching and practice to accommodate modern ways of living and thinking about relationships and sexuality. When asked whether this letter was reactionary or merely extreme traditionalism, one pastor responded, ‘Were Saints Thomas More and John Fisher obscurantist conservatives? No. They gave their lives in defence of the indissolubility of marriage. Catholics at the time of Henry VIII were willing to give up a thousand years of Catholic life and culture to defend the inconvenient but timeless truth. Now is our time to give witness’.
Theologians, philosophers, canon lawyers, well-known educators and evangelists are amongst the priests who have signed this appeal. Their letter urges those who will be present at the Synod to defend doctrine and put an end to confusion.
Another priest, when asked why such a large number of priests are so keen to sign the letter, said, ‘It’s a matter of pastoral concern and fidelity to the Gospel. Mercy requires both love and truth. There’s a lot at stake. Not all priests would be comfortable expressing themselves in an open letter, but I’d be very worried if there were priests who disagreed with the sentiments it contains’. The letter calls for fidelity to Catholic teaching, and that practice should remain ‘inseparably in harmony’ with doctrine. The priests state that they remain committed to helping ‘those who struggle to follow the Gospel in an increasingly secular society’, but imply that those couples and families who have remained faithful are not being adequately supported or encouraged.
There is a growing suspicion that the Synod will unleash division in the Church by attempting to re-shape Catholic teaching and practice to accommodate modern ways of living and thinking about relationships and sexuality. When asked whether this letter was reactionary or merely extreme traditionalism, one pastor responded, ‘Were Saints Thomas More and John Fisher obscurantist conservatives? No. They gave their lives in defence of the indissolubility of marriage. Catholics at the time of Henry VIII were willing to give up a thousand years of Catholic life and culture to defend the inconvenient but timeless truth. Now is our time to give witness’.
Theologians, philosophers, canon lawyers, well-known educators and evangelists are amongst the priests who have signed this appeal. Their letter urges those who will be present at the Synod to defend doctrine and put an end to confusion.
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