Pope Francis has published new guidelines on family life that argue the Church should show more understanding of modern realities.
Divorcees remarrying: "Language or conduct that might lead them to feel discriminated against should be avoided, and they should be encouraged to participate in the life of the community. The Christian community's care of such persons is not to be considered a weakening of its faith and testimony to the indissolubility of marriage..."
Contraception: "The use of methods based on the 'laws of nature and the incidence of fertility' are to be promoted, since 'these methods respect the bodies of the spouses, encourage tenderness between them and favour the education of an authentic freedom'
Women: "The verbal, physical, and sexual violence that women endure in some marriages contradicts the very nature of the conjugal union. I think of the reprehensible genital mutilation of women practised in some cultures, but also of their lack of equal access to dignified work and roles of decision-making"
Sex education: "Frequently, sex education deals primarily with 'protection' through the practice of 'safe sex'. Such expressions convey a negative attitude towards the natural procreative finality of sexuality, as if an eventual child were an enemy to be protected against.... It is always irresponsible to invite adolescents to toy with their bodies and their desires, as if they possessed the maturity, values, mutual commitment and goals proper to marriage. They end up being blithely encouraged to use other persons as a means of fulfilling their needs or limitations"
Gay people: "Every person, regardless of sexual orientation, ought to be respected in his or her dignity and treated with consideration... As for proposals to place unions between homosexual persons on the same level as marriage, there are absolutely no grounds for considering homosexual unions to be in any way similar or even remotely analogous to God's plan for marriage and family"
Regardless of your denomination or belief/lack of belief, do you think these changes in the thinking and approach of the world's biggest religious organization are to be welcomed?
Originally posted by FMF http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-35994408
[b]Pope Francis has published new guidelines on family life that argue the Church should show more understanding of modern realities.
[quote]Divorcees remarrying: "Language or conduct that might lead them to feel discriminated against should be avoided, and they should be encouraged to participate in ...[text shortened]... s in the thinking and approach of the world's biggest religious organization are to be welcomed?[/b]
Originally posted by FMF http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-35994408
[b]Pope Francis has published new guidelines on family life that argue the Church should show more understanding of modern realities.
[quote]Divorcees remarrying: "Language or conduct that might lead them to feel discriminated against should be avoided, and they should be encouraged to participate in ...[text shortened]... s in the thinking and approach of the world's biggest religious organization are to be welcomed?[/b]
It looks like a load of wishy-washy, cosy-wosy film-flam, albeit positive wishy-washy, cosy-wosy film-flam. None of it addresses the challenges of Biblical scripture, the rigidity of Catholic doctrine nor the gross discrimination which goes on. At least it seems to provide a softening of the way certain doctrines are executed. It's difficult to really tell what it will all mean in cold light of every day life.
Originally posted by FMF Which of the five key points highlighted in the OP do you welcome the most?
Probably the bit about women. It seems the most modern sensibility out of the bunch. The rest just seems like an easing of attitude, but not necessarily an easing of results. This is touted as a "modernization" but some of it just seems like "doubling down".
Originally posted by FMF http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-35994408
[b]Pope Francis has published new guidelines on family life that argue the Church should show more understanding of modern realities.
[quote]Divorcees remarrying: "Language or conduct that might lead them to feel discriminated against should be avoided, and they should be encouraged to participate in ...[text shortened]... s in the thinking and approach of the world's biggest religious organization are to be welcomed?[/b]
The tone is amiable but nothing's really changed. The Vatican is still imprisoned by the past.
Originally posted by HandyAndy The tone is amiable but nothing's really changed. The Vatican is still imprisoned by the past.
Do you sense that something is changing - albeit perhaps at a glacial pace - or that the amiable tone is consciously intended to disguise the fact that nothing has really changed ~ and nor will it?
Pope urges greater family understanding
09 Apr '16 03:10
Back to Top