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| Opening session of the Extraordinary Synod on the Family (Photo: Vatican Radio) |
Random Thoughts at the Close of the Synod
I have just finished attending the Extraordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, convened by the Holy Father, Pope Francis. It was my privilege not only to listen to the debates and interventions. I also had the privilege of addressing the assembly on the role of the clergy in family renewal. Much has been written and reported on in respect to this event, truly momentous in the life of the Church. It is my duty, as President of the CBCP, and as a Synodal father, to share with you these thoughts at the conclusion of the synod. It is, as has repeatedly been underscored, only the prelude of more complete discussions in the future that we all eagerly await.
INCLUSIVE AND FAITHFUL LOVE
There are two concerns of the Church: first, the Church must be able to extend to all that hospitality, that care, that mercy that Jesus ordained would be the mark of his community, his Body, the Church. None should be systematically excluded because of circumstances personal to the individual. All should be aided in the path of constant conversion and renewal. All should be offered the hope of the Gospel. All should be comforted by the love of brothers and sisters in the One Body of Christ. In this regard, Pope Francis warned us of the temptation to be simply “do-gooders”, that in the name of a deceptive mercy binds the wounds without first curing them and treating them; that treats the symptoms and not the causes and the roots.
There are two concerns of the Church: first, the Church must be able to extend to all that hospitality, that care, that mercy that Jesus ordained would be the mark of his community, his Body, the Church. None should be systematically excluded because of circumstances personal to the individual. All should be aided in the path of constant conversion and renewal. All should be offered the hope of the Gospel. All should be comforted by the love of brothers and sisters in the One Body of Christ. In this regard, Pope Francis warned us of the temptation to be simply “do-gooders”, that in the name of a deceptive mercy binds the wounds without first curing them and treating them; that treats the symptoms and not the causes and the roots.
In the name of misplaced mercy Pope Francis said we face the
temptation to come down off the Cross, to please the people, and not stay
there, in order to fulfil the will of the Father; to bow down to a worldly
spirit instead of purifying it and bending it to the Spirit of God.
The other concern is as legitimate as the first: that the Church must preach a message that is not just a concession to popular demand, but is truly Christ's, and that the Church must remain constantly docile to the prompting of the Spirit. This is the reason that the Church must be unceasingly devoted to that discernment by which we all seek out the will of God and read from the Gospels, as interpreted by the Tradition of the Church in a living faith, a response to the questions of our time. There is also a temptation, according to Pope Francis, of hostile inflexibility that is, wanting to close oneself within the written the letter and not allowing oneself to be surprised by God, by the God of surprises; within the law, within the certitude of what we know and not of what we still need to learn and to achieve. From the time of Christ, it is the temptation of the zealous, of the scrupulous.
The other concern is as legitimate as the first: that the Church must preach a message that is not just a concession to popular demand, but is truly Christ's, and that the Church must remain constantly docile to the prompting of the Spirit. This is the reason that the Church must be unceasingly devoted to that discernment by which we all seek out the will of God and read from the Gospels, as interpreted by the Tradition of the Church in a living faith, a response to the questions of our time. There is also a temptation, according to Pope Francis, of hostile inflexibility that is, wanting to close oneself within the written the letter and not allowing oneself to be surprised by God, by the God of surprises; within the law, within the certitude of what we know and not of what we still need to learn and to achieve. From the time of Christ, it is the temptation of the zealous, of the scrupulous.
HURTING FAMILIES
Filipinos who presently find themselves in irregular relationships -- live-in unions, de facto separation from spouses and partnerships with other persons -- must be helped by pastors particularly by the Sacrament of Penance, to follow the demands of true and unselfish love in the Spirit of the Gospel. We cannot presume to judge and condemn. Rather, the presumption should be that there is a genuine effort on their part to live according to the demands of our faith. The danger of scandal should never stand in the way of genuine charity, and the Catholic faithful must be reminded that much of what Jesus did was scandalous to the 'righteous' of his time. Where, however, in the pastoral assessment of bishops and priests, the full and unqualified admission of persons in irregular unions to the life of the Church causes charitable and sincere Catholics to doubt and misunderstand the teaching of the Church, then some prudent arrangement must be worked out that will be beneficial to all.
Filipinos who presently find themselves in irregular relationships -- live-in unions, de facto separation from spouses and partnerships with other persons -- must be helped by pastors particularly by the Sacrament of Penance, to follow the demands of true and unselfish love in the Spirit of the Gospel. We cannot presume to judge and condemn. Rather, the presumption should be that there is a genuine effort on their part to live according to the demands of our faith. The danger of scandal should never stand in the way of genuine charity, and the Catholic faithful must be reminded that much of what Jesus did was scandalous to the 'righteous' of his time. Where, however, in the pastoral assessment of bishops and priests, the full and unqualified admission of persons in irregular unions to the life of the Church causes charitable and sincere Catholics to doubt and misunderstand the teaching of the Church, then some prudent arrangement must be worked out that will be beneficial to all.
PERSONS WITH SAME SEX ATTRACTION
Persons with homosexual orientation are sons and daughters of God; no less than any of us is. Discrimination against them is contrary to the Gospel spirit. Verbal and physical violence against them is an offense against the good Lord Himself. Through honest dialogue and pastoral accompaniment, it should be our goal to assist them to respond to the demands of chastity and that purity of body and heart that Jesus, in the Gospels, calls 'blessed'. When they wish to make an offering to the life of the Church according to their talents, abilities and gifts, the Church as mother provides for them.
To the legislators who consider giving legal recognition to same sex
unions, the Church declares there is no equivalence or even any remote
analogy whatsoever between marriage between a man and woman as planned by God
and the so-called same sex unions.
We can be tempted to neglect reality, making use of
meticulous language and a language of smoothing to say so many things and to
say nothing, said Pope Francis.
CHRISTIAN RESPONSE
In facing our Catholic brethren in painful broken marriage situations or
our brothers and sisters with homosexual attraction quietly struggling to be
chaste, Pope Francis said we must avoid two temptations: The temptation
to transform stones into bread to break the long, heavy, and painful fast; and
also to transform the bread into a stone and cast it against the sinners, the
weak, and the sick, add to their already unbearable burdens.
Our Filipino Catholic laity must be fully engaged in the apostolate of
the family for the family is precisely the competence of lay persons.
Active Catholic couples are asked to lead in initiatives that assist couples in
living the reality of the sacrament of matrimony, and in the rearing of their
families according to the spirit of the Gospel. Our bishops and pastors
encourage and support these lay initiatives.
I wish to borrow this prayer at the end of the Message to the People of God at the conclusion of the synod:
I wish to borrow this prayer at the end of the Message to the People of God at the conclusion of the synod:
Father, grant to all families
the presence of strong and wise spouses
who may be the source of a free and
united family.
Father, grant that parents
may have a home in which to live
in peace with their families.
Father, grant that children may be
signs of trust and hope
and that young people may have the
courage
to forge life-long, faithful
commitments.
Father, grant that all may be able to
earn bread with their hands,
that they may enjoy serenity of spirit
and that they may keep aflame the torch
of faith even in periods of darkness.
Father, grant that we may all see
flourish,
a Church that is ever more faithful and
credible,
a just and humane city,
a world that loves truth, justice and
mercy.
Rome, October 19, 2014
+ SOCRATES B. VILLEGAS
Archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan
CBCP President
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