WHITHER GOEST THOU, ACADEMY FOR LIFE?
As you may be aware, there has been much consternation in Catholic circles – hierarchy and faithful – about Pope Francis’ recent nomination of a pro-abortion member to the Pontifical Academy for Life. I spent most of the day researching and writing a Special for my weekend EWTN program, Vatican Insider, on this nomination and related issues.
I look at how the academy has changed from its original makeup and focus under its founder, Pope St. John Paul, when it was re-tooled by Pope Francis, and how Francis also re-instituted his predecessor’s John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and the Family to the point where it is unrecognizable for original members.
I ask: Why would a Pope appoint as an academician someone who is pro-abortion?. Abortion is the taking of an innocent human life. The academy is FOR life. Now, people are asking: Is it truly the Pontifical Academy for Life?
The bottom line of my piece is: What are we to make of the remarkable dichotomy between the Church’s Magisterium on protecting and defending all life from conception to natural death and the appointment of people to Church institutes and academies who do not defend and protect that life?
So tune in this weekend for that analysis.
And that is the reason I did not read the entire synod document presented today.
THE SYNOD ON SYNODALITY: THE CONTINENTAL PHASE, “A BROAD TENT”
I am still in the process of reading the 56-page document on the continental pages of the Synod on Synodality that was presented today in the Holy See Press Office. I am not qualified at the moment to write a decent summary of a document I’ve not finished reading but I offer links to two articles that summarize the document. And here is a link to the original document in English: Documento-Tappa-Continentale-EN.pdf (synod.va)
VOICES OF EXCLUDED HEARD IN DOCUMENT FOR CONTINENTAL PHASE OF SYNOD
The Synod of Bishops published the text that will provide a “frame of reference” and form the basis for the work of the second stage of the synodal path launched by Pope Francis in 2021. The Working Document for the Continental Stage was based on the syntheses coming from the churches of the five continents after consultation with the faithful and others.
By Salvatore Cernuzio (Vatican news)
Here are the poor and the indigenous, families, remarried divorcees and single parents, LGBTQ people, and women who feel excluded. Here are the victims of abuse or trafficking or racism. Here are priests, laicized priests, and lay people; Christians and those ‘distant’ from the Church, those who want reforms on priesthood and the role of women, and those who “following the liturgical developments of the Second Vatican Council, do not feel at ease.” Here are those who live in countries of martyrdom, those who deal daily with violence and conflict, those who fight against witchcraft and tribalism. In short, here within the approximately 45 pages that make up the Document for the Continental Stage (DCS) is the whole of humanity, with its wounds and fears, its imperfections and demands. Voices of excluded heard in Document for Continental Phase of Synod – Vatican News
SYNOD ON SYNODALITY: VATICAN REVEALS FRAMEWORK FOR NEXT STAGE OF DISCUSSIONS
The Vatican revealed on Thursday a key document to guide the next stage of discussions in the Synod on Synodality.
The working document, titled “Enlarge the space of your tent,” covers issues across a broad spectrum, from the clergy sexual abuse crisis to Christian unity. The text calls for “a Church capable of radical inclusion” and says that many synod reports raised questions about the inclusion and role of women, young people, the poor, people identifying as LGBTQ, and the divorced and remarried. (Vatican photo)
The 44-page working document is officially called the DCS (Document for the Continental Stage). It summarizes the reports shared with the Vatican by bishops’ conferences, religious congregations, departments of the Roman Curia, lay movements, and other groups and individuals.
Published on Oct. 27, the document aims to be “the privileged instrument through which the dialogue of the local Churches among themselves and with the universal Church can take place during the Continental Stage.” Synod on Synodality: Vatican reveals framework for next stage of discussions | Catholic News Agency (The document, with art, is 56 pages on the synod webpage).
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