Pope Francis

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http://www.news.va/en/news/africa-islam-and-the-light-of-the-gospel-on-synod

Africa, Islam and the light of the Gospel on Synod agenda
2014-10-08 Vatican Radio



(Vatican Radio) How the Church upholds the dignity of homosexuals in Africa. How it deals with the problems of a polygamous family. And why it’s essential for bishops to have good relations with leaders of other religious traditions. Those were some of the many different issues discussed by bishops at the Synod for the Family, as presented in the press briefing for Vatican journalists on Wednesday.

Speaking alongside Fr Federico Lombardi and his assistants were Nigerian Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama and Argentinean Archbishop Victor Fernandez, as Philippa Hitchen reports….

Wednesday morning’s Synod session began with the very moving story of a Catholic woman from Ivory Coast, married to a Muslim man. That personal testimony set the tone for much discussion about the very practical problems facing Church leaders in Africa as they deal with a wide variety of complex and country-specific problems.
 

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http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/synod-day-2-casting-a-wide-net/

Synod Day 2: Casting a Wide Net
Discussions among the participants at the Extraordinary Synod of Bishops on the Family considered a range of ideas concerning marriage, family life and sexuality.
10/08/2014

VATICAN CITY — The latest discussions yesterday afternoon and this morning at the Extraordinary Synod of Bishops on the Family covered a wide range of subjects largely focusing on how to make the Church and the Church’s teaching more attractive to marriage and family life.
 

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Cardinal Pell is a member of the pope's Council of Cardinals.

http://www.zenit.org/en/articles/mercy-is-neither-tolerance-nor-relativism

Mercy Is Neither Tolerance Nor Relativism
Cardinal George Pell Discusses Marriage, Mercy and Happiness
Vatican City,  October 08, 2014

"We must work to avoid a repetition of what happened after the promulgation of Humanae Vitae in 1968", said Cardinal George Pell Friday night at the presentation of the book: 'The Gospel of the Family: Going Beyond Cardinal Kasper's Proposal in the Debate on Marriage, Civil Re-Marriage and Communion in the Church' (published by Ignatius Press).

Authors of the book are the professor of pastoral theology of marriage and of the family, Don Juan José Pérez-Soba, and professor of philosophical anthropology Stephan Kampowski.

In a meeting that was held in Rome at the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family, Cardinal Pell said that "the Christian vision of mercy is the central theme of marriage and sexuality, and of forgiveness and Communion." 

"Mercy," he explained, "is different from most forms of tolerance," even though "it is one of the most commendable aspects of our pluralistic societies." However, the cardinal added, "the freedom of adults and the inevitable differences do not necessarily have to be based on an absolute relativism. "

With regard to marriage, the cardinal recalled that "the indissolubility of marriage is one of the richest truths of divine revelation" and "it is no coincidence that in the Judeo-Christian culture, monotheism and monogamy are associated."

"Lifetime marriage," he said, "is not just a burden, but a gem, an institution that gives life."

"The societies that recognize this beauty and well-being," he added, "are able to protect married couples by means ofeffective disciplinary measures."

For the Church, he reiterated, "the doctrine and the pastoral practice cannot be in contradiction with each other and it is not possible to sustain the indissolubility of marriage while allowing remarried grooms to receive Communion at the same time."
 

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http://www.zenit.org/en/articles/synod14-summary-of-4th-general-congregation

Synod14: Summary of 4th General Congregation
Consideration Given to the Many Cultural Elements That Strain Family Life
Vatican City,  October 08, 2014 

The general debate continued during the fourth general Congregation, following the order of the Instrumentum Laboris. The theme was “The Pastoral Program for the Family: Various Proposals Underway” (Part II, Chapter 1).

Firstly, the link between the crisis of faith and the crisis of the family was underlined: it was said that the first generates the second. This is because faith is seen mostly as a set of doctrinal mores, whereas it is primarily a free act by which one entrusts oneself to God. This gave rise, among other things, to the suggestion of devising a “Vademecum” dedicated to the catechesis of the family, so as to strengthen its evangelising mission. Furthermore, the weakness of the faith of many baptised persons was underlined; this often leads to the marriage of couples who are not appropriately aware of what they are undertaking.

Secondly, a great challenge facing families today was mentioned: that of the “dictatorship of unitary thought” that aims to introduce into society those countervalues that distort the vision of marriage as a union between a man and a woman. The crisis of values, atheist secularism, hedonism, and the ambition of power destroy families today, distorting it, weakening people and consequently rendering society fragile. It is therefore important to recover in the faithful the awareness of belonging to the Church, as the Church grows by attraction and the families of the Church attract other families.
 

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http://www.zenit.org/en/articles/synod14-full-text-of-fifth-general-congregation-president-cardinal-assis-introduction-and-mrs-toure

Synod14: Full Text of Fifth General Congregation, President Cardinal Assis' Introduction and Mrs. Toure's Testimony
Vatican City,  October 08, 2014 
(Pastoral Challenges)

SYNOD 14 – 5TH GENERAL CONGREGATION: “PASTORAL CHALLENGES
ON THE FAMILY” (PART II, CHAPTER 2)
08.10.2014

Introduction by the President Delegate, Cardinal Raymundo Damasceno Assis
Testimony of Mrs. Jeannette Toure (Ivory Coast)

Held at 9:00 am today in the Synod Hall in the Vatican was the Fifth General Congregation of the Extraordinary Synod on the Family, for the continuation of the general debate, which is following a thematic order in correspondence with the Parts and chapters of the Instrumentum laboris.

This thematic session was focused on chapter 2 of Part II “Pastoral Challenges on the Family and regards four topics: a) The Crisis of Faith and Family Life; b) Critical Internal Situations of the Family; c) Outside Pressures on the Family; d) Some Particular Situations.
 
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http://www.zenit.org/en/articles/synod14-summary-of-5th-general-congregation
Synod14: Summary of 5th General Congregation
Challenges for Mideast, African Families Given Special Attention
Vatican City,  October 08, 2014

In the fifth general Congregation, which took place this morning and which the Holy Father did not attend on account of the general audience, the general debate continued on the themes outlined in the Instrumentum laboris: “The Pastoral Challenges of the Family (Part II, Chapter 2). The Crisis of Faith and Family Life / Critical Situations within the Family / External Pressures on the Family / Special Situations”.

First and foremost, the debate focused on the Church in the Middle East and in North Africa. Both exist in difficult political, economic and religious situations, with serious repercussions on families. Where there are laws that impede the reunification of families, poverty leads to migration, where there is religious fundamentalism and Christians do not enjoy equal rights with Muslim citizens, there are often difficult problems for families resulting from mixed marriages.
 

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http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2014/10/09/pope_at_santa_marta_what_we_dare_not_hope_forp/1108212

Pope at Santa Marta: What we dare not hope for
09/10/2014

(Vatican Radio) We ask for a lot of things when we pray, but the greatest gift that God can give us is the Holy Spirit.  This was Pope Francis’ reflection Thursday morning at Mass in Santa Marta, commenting on the Gospel of the day, which presents the parable of the man who gets what he needs because of his persistence.

Pope Francis began his homily by noting that “God has so much mercy” and observing that in the Collect we begin by asking God  for forgiveness and to "obtain what prayer does not dare to hope for":

"This got me thinking: it is precisely the mercy of God not only to forgive - we all know that - but to be generous and give more and more ... We asked: 'And obtain what prayer does not dare to hope for'. When we pray we might ask for this [intention] or that [intention] and He always gives us more, much more!”.
 

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http://www.zenit.org/en/articles/synod14-summary-of-6th-general-congregation

Synod14: Summary of 6th General Congregation
Discussions Ranging From the Annulment Process to Polygamy to Spiritual Communion for the Divorced
Vatican City,  October 09, 2014

During the Sixth General Congregation, which took place Wednesday afternoon, the Synod Fathers continued their debate on the theme set forth in the Instrumentum Laboris: “Difficult pastoral situations (Part II, Chapter 3). Situations in Families / Concerning Unions of Persons of the Same Sex”.

Firstly, it was underlined that the Church is not a customs house, but rather the house of the Father, and must therefore offer patient accompaniment to all people, including those who find themselves in difficult pastoral situations. The true Catholic Church encompasses healthy families and families in crisis, and therefore in her daily effort of sanctification must not show indifference in relation to weakness, as patience implies actively helping the weakest.

With regard to processes for the declaration of nullity of marriage, in general the need to streamline the procedures was observed by many (along with the need to integrate more competent laypersons in the ecclesiastical Tribunals), but the Assembly also noted the danger of superficiality and the need always to safeguard respect for the truth and the rights of the parties. It was also remarked that the process is not contrary to pastoral charity, and judicial pastoral ministry must avoid attempts to apportion blame, instead encouraging a calm discussion of cases. Again with regard to marriage nullity, the hypothesis of recourse to administrative channels, not in lieu of the judicial process but rather as a complement to it, was considered. It was suggested that it would be the responsibility of the bishop to decide which requests for nullity could be dealt with through administrative channels.
 

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http://www.zenit.org/en/articles/synod14-full-text-of-seventh-general-congregation-cardinal-vingt-trois-and-testimony-of-Brazilian

Synod14: Full Text of Seventh General Congregation: Cardinal Vingt-Trois and Testimony of Brazilian Spouses
Vatican City,  October 09, 2014

Below is a translation of the 7th General Congregation of the Synod of Bishops which took place at the Vatican this morning:
***
SYNOD 14 – 7TH GENERAL CONGREGATION: PASTORAL CHALLENGES REGARDING OPENNESS TO LIFE” (PART III, CHAPTER 1), 09.10.2014

Introduction by the President Delegate, Cardinal Andre Vingt-Trois
Testimony of Spouses Arturo and Hermelinda As Zamberline, Directors of the Equipe Notre-Dame Movement for the Sub Region of Brazil (Brazil)

At 9 o’clock today, the 7th General Congregation of the Extraordinary Synod on the Family opened in the Synod Hall, in the presence of the Holy Father, continuing the general debate, which is following a thematic order in correspondence with the Parts and chapters of the Instrumentum laboris.
 
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http://www.news.va/en/news/seventh-general-congregation-the-pastoral-challeng
Seventh General Congregation: The pastoral challenges concerning openness to life

Vatican City, 9 October 2014 (VIS) – The seventh general Congregation, which took place this morning was divided into two phases: the first consisting of further general debate on the theme of the previous afternoon, “Difficult Pastoral Situations” (Part II, Chapter 3. Situations in Families / Concerning Unions of Persons of the Same Sex”, and the second regarding the subsequent issue, “The Pastoral Challenges concerning an Openness to Life”.

In the first part, therefore, the Assembly continued its reflection on the matter of access to the sacrament of the Eucharist for divorced and remarried persons. Firstly, it re-emphasised the indissoluble nature of marriage, without compromise, based on the fact that the sacramental bond is an objective reality, the work of Christ in the Church. Such a value must be defended and cared for through adequate pre-matrimonial catechesis, so that engaged couples are fully aware of the sacramental character of the bond and its vocational nature. Pastoral accompaniment for couples following marriage would also be useful.
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/synod-the-church-a-place-for-families-in-crisis

Synod: the Church, a place for families in crisis
2014-10-09 Vatican Radio



(Vatican Radio) What can the Church do to accompany families in difficult pastoral situations such as the separated, divorced or divorced and remarried, single parents, teen mothers, children from broken homes? What is the Churches pastoral outreach concerning unions of persons of the same sex? These were the topics of discussion in the 8th General Congregation of the Extraordinary Synod of Bishops on ‘The pastoral challenges of the family in the context of evangelization’.

The Wednesday afternoon session was led by the President Delegate on duty, Card. Raymundo Damasceno Assis, Archbishop of Aparecida (Brazil). He warned against a shortsighted legalistic approach stating that the Church wants to fathom the depths of these difficult situations in order to welcome all of those involved so that it may be a paternal home where there is a place for everyone with his or her life’s difficulties.

The discussion was introduced by the testimony of auditors Stephen and Sandra Conway, from South Africa.  They are regional Retrouvailles leaders for Africa, an organization that helps marriages in crisis.

They told participants that “financial difficulties, infidelity and family of origin issues are common problems”.  However they also pointed to a predominant “singles married lifestyle” which begins innocently but over time drives a wedge between the couple.
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/synod-seeks-to-model-gods-marriage-of-justice-and

Synod seeks to model God's marriage of justice and mercy
2014-10-09 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) How can the Church remain true to its core beliefs while showing mercy, compassion and forgiveness to individuals who fail, in so many ways, to live up its high ideals? That’s the question at the heart of the Synod of Bishops on the Family which is moving towards the conclusion of its first week’s work. To explore these issues at the daily press briefing on Thursday, the head of the Vatican press office Fr Federico Lombardi and his assistants were joined by the head of the Canadian Bishops’ Conference, Archbishop Paul-André Durocher and Italian Cardinal Francesco Coccopalmerio, as Philippa Hitchen reports....

‘Which of you, having a son or an ox that has fallen into a well on the Sabbath day, will not immediately pull him out?’ Those words of Jesus to the Pharisees were used by Cardinal Coccopalmerio on Thursday to throw light on the dilemma facing Synod Fathers as they struggle to distinguish between Church doctrine and its practical application to people in their care.

As a canon law professor and current president of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts, the Cardinal has spent most of his life studying the way the laws of the Church impact ordinary peoples’ lives.  He’s also a member of the new Commission, established by Pope Francis in September, to reform the marriage annulment process – one of the issues that has been under the spotlight in the Synod Hall…..

Like many other Church leaders, the cardinal is strongly in favour of simplifying the annulment process which is often a costly, complicated and drawn out affair. All the bishops at the Synod, are clear there will be no change to the Church’s teaching on the indissolubility of a Catholic marriage, but is much heated discussion on how to respond to men and women who are separated, divorced and remarried and are asking to be readmitted to the Eucharist.
 

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http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2014/10/10/pope_francis_make_an_examination_of_conscience/1108283

Pope Francis: Make an examination of conscience
10/10/2014

(Vatican Radio) To prevent evil from entering into our hearts, there is an ancient, but very good, practice: the examination of conscience. That was Pope Francis’ message during the morning homily Friday at Santa Marta.

The Gospel of the day reminds us that the devil always comes back to us; he never stops tempting man. “The devil has patience,” Pope Francis said. “He never leaves that which he wants for himself,” that is, our souls:

“After the temptations, in the desert, when Jesus was tempted by the devil, in Luke’s version it says that the devil left Him for a time, but during the life of Jesus he returned again and again: when they put Him to the test, when they tried to trap Him, in the Passion, finally on the Cross. ‘But if you are the Son of God… but you come, you come from us, so we cannot believe.’ And we all know that these words touch the heart: ‘But can you do it? Let me see! No, you can’t.’ That’s how the devil even to the end [dealt] with Jesus… and likewise with us.”
 

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http://www.zenit.org/en/articles/synod14-full-text-of-8th-general-congregation-cardinal-vingt-trois-and-testimony-of-french-spouses

Synod14: Full Text of 8th General Congregation, Cardinal Vingt-Trois and Testimony of French Spouses
Vatican City,  October 10, 2014

SYNOD 14 – 8TH GENERAL CONGREGATION: “THE CHURCH AND THE FAMILY
IN FACE OF THE EDUCATIONAL CHALLENGE (PART III, CHAPTER 2), 09.10.2014

Introduction of the President Delegate, Cardinal Andre Vingt-Trois
Testimony of Spouses Olivier and Xristilla Roussy, of the International Emmanuel Community, Directors of Love and Truth, France

The 8th General Congregation of the Extraordinary Synod on the Family was held at 4:30 pm today in the Synod Hall, in the presence of the Holy Father, to conclude the general debate, carried out these days according to the thematic order, in correspondence with the Parts and chapters of the Instrumentum laboris.

Chapter 2 of the 3rd and last Part: This afternoon’s topic is The Church and the Family in Face of the Educational Challenge. It covers points: a) The educational challenge in general and b) Christian education in difficult family situations.

Cardinal Andre Vingt-Trois, Archbishop of Paris, France, and rotating President  Delegate, introduced the testimony of spouses Mr. Olivier and Mrs. Xristilla Roussy, of the Emmanuel Community, Directors of the apostolic branch of Love and Truth, France, present at the Synod as Auditors.

Following is a translation of the texts.
 

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http://www.zenit.org/en/articles/synod14-summary-of-9th-general-congregation

Synod14: Summary of 9th General Congregation
Vatican City,  October 10, 2014

During the ninth general Congregation, 15 interventions were heard (6 from couples and 9 from single Auditors), almost all laypersons engaged in the field of family pastoral care, bioethics and human ecology. From various countries throughout the world and representing almost all the continents, the Auditors brought to the Assembly their living testimony of family apostolate lived in everyday life.

Firstly, mention was made of the difficulties experienced by families living in the Middle East, especially in Iraq: these numerous conflicts have serious repercussions on families, divided by the death of their members, forced to migrate in search of a safe place to live, deprived of a future for the young who are removed from schools or for the elderly who are abandoned to their own devices. The unity of the Christian family in the Middle East is profoundly disrupted, with consequences also for the social and national unity of the countries in the region. Faced with such dramatic situations, the Church truly represents a safe haven, a "family of families" that offers comfort and hope. It is also necessary to prepare married couples to be "mediators" of peace and reconciliation.
 

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http://www.zenit.org/en/articles/synod14-press-briefing-oct-10

Synod14: Press Briefing Oct. 10
Vatican City,  October 10, 2014

At the briefing at the Holy See Press Office this afternoon, Father Federico Lombardi and Father Thomas Rosica gave the following briefing on the latest synod discussions:

Today was a day dedicated to more interventions and testimonies, they said. Challenges, creative strategies were at the forefront of yesterday afternoon's discussions.

Father Rosica outlined the difficulties, discussed in great detail, facing families: poverty, HIV/AIDS, conflict, constant migration of peoples, uprooted and divided families in the Middle East, war, violence and all types of abuse, a great emphasis on poverty among others.

Also mentioned was the power of images and how images, particularly those viewed via social media, online, and in programs, have destructive abilities, regardless of how much some can unite.

The penitential journey

There was, he noted, a great emphasis to speak about the "penitential journey" that must be in place, noting its role in bringing people back to the faith, particularly the divorced and remarried.

He admitted: "This is not a simple solution, but different bishops spoke about the penitential journeys, the moments of reconciliation, the journeys of reconciliation."

Globalization's ability to divide and the imposition of ideologies on nations, especially those of the third world, were also addressed.

One bishop said, "Just because we have poverty doesn’t mean we don’t have dignity."

Yesterday's closed discussions

Father Rosica reiterated that although the hall is not set up for it, bishops and cardinals address and speak with each other freely. He said there was a great dialogue taking place, according to Father Rosica, which was especially visible when speaking about education.

The effects of divorce on the children he said was widely discussed, with one bishop comparing the way children are shuffled around like a ping-pong game. They reflected on the lack of stability for these children, its long term effects on them, and the hurt.
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/message-for-families-affected-by-conflicts

Message of the Synod of Bishops for families affected by conflicts



Vatican City, 10 October 2014 (VIS) – The full text of the message of the Third Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops for families who suffer as a result of conflicts is published below:

“Gathered around the Successor of the Apostle Peter, we the Synod Fathers of the Third Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, along with all participants, share the paternal concern of the Holy Father, expressing our profound closeness to all the families who suffer as a consequence of the many conflicts in progress.

“In particular, we raise to the Lord our prayers for Iraqi and Syrian families, forced on account of their profession of the Christian faith or their belonging to other ethnic or religious communities, to abandon everything and flee towards a future without any form of certainty. We join with the Holy Father Francis in emphasising that no-one may use the name of God to commit violence, and that to kill in the name of God is a grave sacrilege. Offering thanks to International Organisations and Countries for their solidarity, we invite persons of good will to offer the necessary assistance and aid to the innocent victims of the current barbarism, and at the same time we implore the international community to act to re-establish peaceful co-existence in Iraq, in Syria, and in all the Middle East.
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/synod-concludes-first-phase-of-debate-on-family-li

Synod concludes first phase of debate on family life
2014-10-10 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio) Bishops and lay experts attending the Synod on the Family are coming to the end of their first week’s work and moving into their different language discussion groups for the second phase of their meeting.  With Pope Francis present at almost every session, a vast variety of family issues have been under the spotlight over the past five days. At the briefing for journalists in the Vatican press office on Friday, Fr Lombardi and his assistants were joined for the first time by three lay experts, Jocelyne Khoueiry, from the Lebanese bishops’ commission for family and life, and Alice and Jeffrey Heinzen, advisors on natural family planning to the U.S. bishops’ conference, as Philippa Hitchen reports:
 

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http://www.aleteia.org/en/religion/article/pope-franciss-hopes-for-the-synod-5802153100705792

October 10, 2014
Pope Francis's Hopes for the Synod
The pope's interview with La Nación

We have to engage with social conflicts and try to offer a consoling hand, he says in an interview with La Nación.

The synod will be long, and the topics will be dealt with in depth and freedom, explained Pope Francis in an interview published this Sunday in the Argentine daily La Nación .

“What does the Pope hope for from the synod that has just begun?,” asked the journalist Joaquín Morales Solá during an interview that took place at the Casa Santa Marta in the Vatican, where the Pope lives.

“Don’t expect a doctrinal definition next week,” Francis replied wryly. “This will be a long synod, that will probably last for a year. I am only giving the starting push now.”

Asking about the differing points of view that converge in the assembly, which started its work this morning, the Pope affirmed that he is not worried; on the contrary, “everyone has something to contribute. It actually makes me happy to debate with the bishops who are very conservative, but intellectually very well prepared,” he said.

Regarding this, the Pope explained, “I was a relator in the 2001 synod and there was a cardinal who told us what could be discussed and what could not. That will not happen now: I even handed over to the bishops my power to elect the presidents of the committees. They will elect them, as they will also elect the secretaries and relators.”

“That is the synodal practice that I like - that everyone can say what they want with total freedom. Freedom is always very important,” he declared.

And he added, “Governing the Church is a different question. That is in my hands, after making the necessary consultations.”

“What conclusion do you think should emerge from the synod?” the journalist insisted. “The family is so valuable, so precious for society and for the Church!” the Pope exclaimed, and he added, “A great deal of emphasis has been placed on the topic of divorced people. It is an aspect that will, without a doubt, be debated. But, for me, the new customs of today’s young people are another important problem.”
 

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http://www.cruxnow.com/church/2014/10/10/despite-predictions-pope-francis-does-not-win-the-nobel/

Despite predictions, Pope Francis does not win the Nobel
By John L. Allen Jr.
Associate editor | October 10, 2014

ROME – In the 2013 conclave, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina was considered a long shot and yet emerged as Pope Francis. Today he had the opposite experience, going into the announcement of the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize considered a front-runner and yet finishing as an also-ran.

The award instead went to Indian Kailash Satyarthi and Pakistani Malala Yousafzay, with the Nobel committee citing their struggles on behalf of children’s rights, especially the right to education.
 

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http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/reaffirming-humanae-vitae-a-goal-for-the-synod-of-bishops-91285/

Backing 'Humanae vitae' a prime goal for bishops' synod

Vatican City, Oct 9, 2014 / 12:03 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- With Paul VI due to be beatified at the end of the Synod on the Family, his teaching on the regulation of birth in Humanae vitae has been re-launched by the synod fathers, presenting the teachings in a positive way.

Paul VI issued his final encyclical in 1968, after a commission of theologians and experts spent four years meeting to study in-depth whether the Church could be oen to the contraceptive pill other articifical forms of birth control.

Though the opinions collected were generally favorable to an opening of Catholic moral teaching to contraception, Paul VI reaffirmed that sexual relations cannot be detached from fecundity.

The decision opened a season of disputes against Paul VI’s pontificate, coming from both inside and outside the Church.

Paul VI’s position has, however, been defended by Pope Francis.

Asked if it was now time for Humanae vitae's teaching to be changed and for the Church to open to birth control, Pope Francis told the Italian newspaper “Il Corriere della Sera” in March “the question is not that of changing doctrine, but of digging deep and making sure that pastoral care takes into account situations and what it is possible for persons to do."
 

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http://www.news.va/en/news/fraternal-delegates-to-synod-on-family-we-share-sa

Fraternal Delegates to Synod on Family: we share same concerns, hopes
2014-10-11 Vatican Radio

(Vatican Radio)  Participants of the extraordinary Synod for the Family took a pause at the end of their first week of work Saturday.  In speeches from seven fraternal Delegates from different Christian confessions Friday afternoon, the synod fathers heard that all Christian families share the same challenges and hopes. In a briefing for journalists Saturday, the Holy See’s press spokesman, Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi said that the eighth fraternal delegate, Metropolitan Hilarion, representing the Patriarchate of Moscow is expected to deliver his address to synod participants in the coming days.