Montreal synod reflects dissent.On October 24, the Montreal Synod enters its third phase, as more than 700 people will participate in synodal assemblies and vote on over 100 resolutions, aimed at "fixing" the Catholic Church in Montreal and universally. More than 6000 recommendations from last year's "synodal teams" have been worked into 118 draft resolutions, which read like a wish-list for fallen-away Catholics. These are contained in a booklet titled One Thousand Faces, One Church. There are calls for women to become priests and deacons, for the divorced to be admitted to the sacraments, for the Sunday liturgy to receive a major overhaul, and to improve the quality of homilies. The recommendations reflect the state of the Church in Montreal, once the city of churches, now the city of empty churches. The synod's format was designed to attract the unchurched un·churched adj. Not belonging to or participating in a church. n. (used with a pl. verb) People who do not belong to or participate in a church considered as a group. Used with the. and disenfranchised; therefore, not surprisingly, it has elicited expression of dissatisfaction from the faithful. Defiant in tone, the following selected recommendations indicate how far removed the authors are from the Catholic Church. * We recommend that the Church of Montreal clearly explain its pastoral policy regarding married priests who are not laicized, homosexuals and lesbians, common-law partners, in order to consider them as fully baptized bap·tize v. bap·tized, bap·tiz·ing, bap·tiz·es v.tr. 1. To admit into Christianity by means of baptism. 2. a. To cleanse or purify. b. To initiate. 3. members of the Church and part of the Christian community, and to determine the conditions for their access to the sacraments. * We recommend that the Church of Montreal initiate, with sincerity, a dialogue on sexual morality, family planning, procreation PROCREATION. The generation of children; it is an act authorized by the law of nature: one of the principal ends of marriage is the procreation of children. Inst. tit. 2, in pr. as the first criterion of Christian marriage, and listen to honest believers, clergy and lay people, who openly question some of the instructions issued by the magisterium mag·is·te·ri·um n. Roman Catholic Church The authority to teach religious doctrine. [Latin, the office of a teacher or other person in authority, from magister, master; see , in order to arrive a more respectful and realistic vision of contemporary conjugal Pertaining or relating to marriage; suitable or applicable to married people. Conjugal rights are those that are considered to be part and parcel of the state of matrimony, such as love, sex, companionship, and support. realities, responsible procreation, human and spiritual fulfilment of the couple, while encouraging openness to other means of contraception and a more accessible moral discourse. Comment Pope John Paul's recent Apostolic Letter Ad tuendam fidem Ad Tuendam Fidem is an apostolic letter of Pope John Paul II issued motu proprio on July 15, 1998. The apostolic letter modifications to the Oriental and Latin codes of canon law defining penalties for public dissent by public ministers of the Church. (To Defend the Faith) firmly closes the door on these fantasies. Cardinal Turcotte should cut short this exercise in changing the unchangeable un·change·a·ble adj. Not to be altered; immutable: the unchangeable seasons. un·change and invite the Catholics of Montreal to rediscover the Church which Christ founded. Regina Farrell, Montreal |
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