in my VIEW A fall fight
in my VIEW A fall fight in Philly A fight is brewing in Philadelphia for this coming September and it promises to be a good one. No, it’s not a fall matchup between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Detroit Lions. It’s phase two of the Synod on the Family called by Pope Francis in October 2013. The first phase, held in Rome last fall, ended with a resounding thud. The issues pondered last year included whether and how the Church should welcome gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people; the attitude of the Church, both pastoral and doctrinal, regarding “irregular” relationships such as living together without being married; and whether divorced Catholics who remarry without first getting an annulment should be able to receive communion. Pope Francis: Focus more on mercy and less on judgment. Towards the end of the 2014 meeting, it seemed there was a movement among some lay and religious participants to signal openness on many of these types of issues. But language drafted towards this end was quickly squashed by the more conservative Cardinals in attendance. His Holiness signaled frustration when he announced at the end of the 2014 meeting that, “the next year would be time for more discernment and that meanwhile, the Church would be open to everyone.” The Pope has been rather plainly outspoken in his encouragement to the “Princes” of the Church to focus more on pastoring and less on disciplining; more on mercy and less on judgment. In February he exhorted a gathering of Cardinals to create a Church with a vision marked first by seeking out others and by welcoming them, no matter what their situation in life, and warned them about being a “closed caste, with nothing authentically ecclesial about it.” The Pope recognizes that family issues are quickly evolving in the west, led by the United States, which is quite possibly why he chose a major American city as the site for part two of the MICHAEL G. SARAFA SPECIAL TO THE CHALDEAN NEWS serving the community with honor and trust #1 in sales 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014! a. majeed j. Kreiss (aj Kreiss) office (248) 644-8400 mobile (313) 377-4210 email aj_kreiss@yahoo.com 36600 Woodward Ave. • Bloomfield Hills • www.mbbloomfield.com Synod on Families. At the end, the facilitators will be charged with making a report to the Pope. Final decisions will be his to make. While it is not likely that the Pope will venture down a road of conflict with the College of Cardinals, it is probable that he will not be satisfied with the results. While Pope Francis is wildly popular to the general world public, he is controversial, at best, amongst the Cardinals. Still, he is not likely to stray far from traditional views of marriage or lifestyles, especially if they run up against well-established doctrine. Herein lies the singular challenge of this Synod — what is doctrine or as some Church leaders call it “the truth,” versus what is the merciful, pastoral or welcoming approach to those outside of Catholic orthodoxy. But it strikes me that Pope Francis is like most American Catholics and others who believe in tenderness and healing. He has said as much. In one homily the Pope said the following: “Truly, the Gospel of the marginalized is where our credibility is at stake, is found and revealed … We can fear to lose the saved and we can want to save the lost. Even today it can happen that we stand at the crossroads of these two ways of thinking.” He went on in a sort of direct attack on his Cardinal critics: “The thinking of the doctors of the law, which would remove the danger by casting out the diseased person … And the thinking of God, who in His mercy embraces and accepts by reinstating him and turning evil into good, condemnation into salvation and exclusion into proclamation.” That seems pretty straightforward to me and it sure would be nice if this group of Catholic religious leaders attending this Synod, mostly single men over the age of 60, would listen to their boss. Because this much is for sure: If these guys roll into Philadelphia and spend three days debating whether divorced Catholics or non-traditional couples can receive communion or not, not only will they put off a majority of American Catholics but they will have wasted an enormous opportunity created by the unprecedented good will towards Pope Francis. They will have squandered the best chance in a generation to show a different side of the Catholic Church, to welcome people back and restore people’s faith in true principles of the Gospel. Let’s hope they get it right. Godspeed to Francis. I hope he gives them Mercedes-Benz of Bloomfield Hills CRUISE PLANNERS TRAVEL Gaven LaKritz Travel Specialist Offi ce: (248) 406-4777 Mobile (248) 535-4884 gaven.lakritz@cruiseplanners.com Let us help you plan and book your next dream vacation! • Incredible Cruises • Complete Vacation Packages • All Inclusive Resorts • Worldwide Land and Tour Vacations • Shore Excursions Don’t miss the boat! Call Gaven Today! 1973320 hell in Philadelphia and in Washington, D.C. when he visits the U.S. Michael Sarafa is president of the Bank of Michigan and a co-publisher of the Chaldean News. 8 CHALDEAN NEWS JUNE 2015
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