Food For Thought

Aug 28, 2014

In October, all eyes will be on the Vatican to see what comes out of the extraordinary Synod of Bishops, a meeting to prepare for the world Synod of Bishops next year, which may have implications for Catholic families.

Pope Francis has asked the faithful to pray for success, particularly for October’s gathering. He said the meeting will be dedicated to the “challenges of marriage, of family life, of the education of children; and the role of the family in the life of the church.”

Of particular interest is the eligibility of divorced and civilly remarried Catholics to receive Communion.

While bishops meet regularly, extraordinary synods are a bit more rare, with only two prior ones in church history. In 1969, one such session was called to discuss better cooperation between the Holy See and national bishops’ conferences. The compilation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church came out of a recommendation from an extraordinary session in 1985.

The pope has stressed the importance of what will be discussed regarding issues facing the modern family and marriage, which is “complex.”

He said, “The church is a mother, and she must travel this path of mercy, and find a form of mercy for all.”