VATICAN CITY - The Extraordinary Synod opened today with an emphasis on openness between participants in the debate, the continuity of Catholic teaching on faith, and on the need to end "the improvisations of a 'do-it-yourself ministry'" within the parishes. The opening statement from general rapporteur Cardinal Peter Erdo emphasized the need for fidelity to current teachings of the Catholic Church, but openness to better ways to catechize and form young adults for sacramental marriage and to find ways to reach out in mercy for those whose family lives are broken or burdened.
Erdo's statement was remarkable for its explicit declaration that church doctrine would not be changed or challenged in this synod. “Therefore," he said, "what is being discussed at this synod of an intense pastoral nature are not doctrinal issues, but the practical ones — nevertheless inseparable from the truths of the faith.” Catechesis and pastoral ministry regarding the issues of marriage, civil divorce, annulment, and cohabitation took up most of the focus of Erdo's introductory speech.
To get an idea where this approach may be heading, the Holy See's press office sent out a tweet emphasizing (and paraphrasing) one of Cardinal Erdo's points. "Divorced and civilly remarried persons belong within the Church. They need and have a right to receive care from their pastors." In the same document, Erdo noted that recognition of a second marriage without an annulment would be "impossible," but that parishes should be trained to discern with those whose marriages have ended to see whether the marriage was valid in the first place. Erdo hinted at ways to make that process more efficient based on the responses from the bishops. (I have more on that at Hot Air.)
What can we expect from this Synod over the next two weeks? General Secretary Cardinal Lorenzo Baldisseri offered a framework of the schedule for this week. The Synod will hold two sessions a day, each on a single general topic. Today and tomorrow will focus on the the knowledge and reception of the church's teachings on family life in the parishes, which Erdo stated were widely supported, if not consistently followed or clearly taught in the marriage preparation process. The day on the schedule with the most potential for controversy will probably be Wednesday, with a morning session on "The Pastoral Challenges of the Family," and especially the afternoon session "Difficult Pastoral Situations." Expect to hear about catechesis and outreach this week, and especially in regard to cohabitation as an opening for pastors to catechize on proper formation of the family.
