One of the many eye-catching paragraphs
of the mid-term report from the Extraordinary Synod on the Family reads as
follows (under the heading “Positive Aspects of Civil Unions and Cohabitation”):
“A
new sensitivity in today’s pastoral consists in grasping the positive reality
of civil weddings and, having pointed out our differences, of cohabitation. It
is necessary that in the ecclesial proposal, while clearly presenting the
ideal, we also indicate the constructive elements in those situations that do
not yet or no longer correspond to that ideal.”
This does not mean we should
recognize civil marriages and/or cohabitation as licit expressions of life in
the Body of Christ; it means we should identify good elements that exist in these
and use them as a foundation to lead people to the fullness of what God wants
for them. Recall the principle established by the Synod that we discussed in my
previous post:
“Discerning and affirming values present in irregular
situations means we find the good in a situation and build upon it, rather than
condemning the situation outright. Instead of using an approach that says
“You’re wrong, you’d better change your lifestyle or you’re going to hell”
(which immediately builds walls of defensiveness and alienation and
accomplishes nothing), we use an approach that begins with “You’ve got some good things going for you, I
can see where God has been working in your life,” which builds the trust and
openness that is the foundation for a respectful examination of other things
that need to change.”
This requires the doors to the Church
be open to people in irregular situations, offering a place of welcome where
they will be lovingly encouraged to grow. An open door does not mean validation
of irregular lifestyles, nor does it necessarily mean full participation in the
sacraments; it means validation of the person as a child of God in need of a
nurturing place to grow, and perhaps inclusion in the sacraments where
appropriate.
This section of the report referenced
Evangelii Gaudium, an apostolic exhortation given by Pope Francis in 2013.
Paragraph 47 of that document states (emphasis added):
“Everyone can share in
some way in the life of the Church; everyone can be part of the
community, nor should the doors of the sacraments be closed for simply any reason.”
“Simply any reason” does not refer to
the canonical requirements for admission to the sacraments, for they are soundly
established. It refers to arbitrary impediments placed at the discretion of
pastors which are counter-productive to ministry. Speaking of the Eucharist in
particular, Pope Francis wrote that it “is
not a prize for the perfect but a powerful medicine and nourishment for the
weak…. Frequently we act as arbiters of grace rather than its facilitators. But
the Church is not a tollhouse; it is the house of the Father, where there is a
place for everyone, with all their problems.”
Guided by this principle, the report
said of civil marriages and cohabitation:
“All these situations have to be dealt with in a constructive
manner, seeking to transform them into opportunities to walk towards the
fullness of marriage and the family in light of the Gospel. They need to be
welcomed and accompanied with patience and delicacy, as subjects for the
evangelization of the family.”
