Now the talking really begins

Oct 30, 2014

By Christopher Lamb
Pope Francis wanted frankness and openness, and that is what he got. But there is also the sense that the real debate in the Church about marriage and families is only just starting

Given the “pastoral earthquake” that took place halfway through the Synod on the Family, perhaps it was inevitable that there would have to be a compromise at the end. On one level, it is hard not to see the Synod and its final document as three steps forward and two steps back, in the words of the German cardinal, Reinhard Marx.

Despite the talk of “setbacks”, the final document should be seen within the context of a reformed and improved synod process that is, in itself, an achievement. Numerous participants at this gathering commented on how different it was to previous synods.

Throughout the Synod, it was clear that many bishops believe that the Church needs to find a new pastoral language when it comes to family life. The mid-term relatio appears to have opened a door to a new approach that for many years seemed impossible.

Source: The Tablet