Denver Catholic

6 I VATICAN NEWS OCTOBER 22, 2014 I DENVER CATHOLIC REGISTER Sunday, October 26, 2014 WE ARE 8AM Mass S t . J o h n B a p t i s t d e L a S a l l e C h a p e l 10AM - 2PM Tours FOR INFORMATION: visit www.MULLENHIGH.com or call 303.761.1764 3601 S. Lowell Blvd. Denver, CO 80236 FAITHFUL PREPARED DIVERSE INVOLVED OPEN HOUSE Join Us! DCR_vertical_Layout 1 9/29/14 8:03 AM Page 1 Family synod ends on high note, despite intense debate BY KATHLEEN NAAB The fi rst of two synods on the family wrapped up on Sunday, Oct. 19, with a solemn Mass celebrated by Pope Fran- cis, in which he beatifi ed Pope Paul VI, the pope most known for his encyclical letter Humanae Vitae in which he ex- plained Church teaching against the use of artifi cial birth control. The two-week synod, perhaps be- cause family issues implicate everyone, was a setting for intense debate and a great deal of international media atten- tion."Catholic Church" was trending on Facebook after the release Monday, Oct. 13, of the "speech after the debate." It caused a stir mainly because of word- ing regarding those with a homosexual orientation—it asked if Catholic com- munities are capable of "accepting and valuing their sexual orientation," for example. Other points on the possibili- ty of the divorced and civilly remarried receiving Communion garnered atten- tion, as did points on "positive aspects" of civil unions and cohabitation. However, immediately after the re- lease of the document, some synod fathers asserted that the document did not refl ect the synod debate, nor represent Scripture and the magiste- rium. The Vatican press offi ce quickly released a statement clarifying that the document is not any sort of offi cial Church teaching, and is rather a work- ing document, to refl ect the discussion under way. Some synod fathers lament- ed, however, that irreparable damage had been done since the document had already been widely discussed in the media. For the second week of the synod, participants were divided into lan- guage-based working groups in order to further discuss the points raised in the fi rst week, and concretely, to pro- pose changes to the relatio. In contrast to the speeches of the synod fathers given the fi rst week, the texts arising from the working groups' discussions were released and published. With varying levels of specifi city, the working groups proposed changes to the relatio, many refl ecting qualms about the paragraphs that had caused most stir. A Vatican spokesman said that all told, nearly 500 changes were proposed. This set the scene for the release Sat- urday, Oct. 18, of the fi nal report, the re- latio synodi. Synod fathers voted on this document paragraph by paragraph, and not all of the 62 paragraphs received a two-thirds majority approval. Vatican spokesmen were careful to emphasize that this fi nal report is not any sort of defi nitive document, but rather a guide for continuing consid- eration on the family, and the ordinary synod to take place a year from now. The text of the fi nal report was re- leased in full, including with the num- bers of the votes corresponding to each paragraph, and also including those four paragraphs that did not win two-thirds approval. Not surprisingly, those para- graphs deal with men and women with homosexual orientations, Communion for the divorced and civilly remarried, and those in unions other than a sacra- mental marriage. With so much controversy and debate within and without the walls of the syn- od hall, some voices gave negative evalu- ations about the synod's outcomes. Pope Francis, however, gave a posi- tive and hopeful judgment of the whole event. In closing remarks Oct. 18, he list- ed "temptations" faced by Church lead- ers, calling out both "progressives" and "conservatives," those who might tend to gloss over Church teaching and those who might tend to be overly demanding. "Personally," he said, "I would be very worried and saddened if it were not for these temptations and these animated discussions; ... if all were in a state of agreement, or silent in a false and quiet- ist peace. Instead, I have seen and I have heard—with joy and appreciation— speeches and interventions full of faith, of pastoral and doctrinal zeal." The Holy Spirit, he assured, is "the true promoter and guarantor of the unity and harmony of the Church." And throughout history, the Holy Spirit "has always guided the barque, through her ministers, even when the sea was rough and choppy, and the ministers unfaith- ful and sinners." Holy Spirit guides Church through rough waters, pope says

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