Q & A on Pope Francis' exhortation on family

Friday, Apr. 22, 2016

A. In October 2014 and October 2015, Pope Francis convened the Synod of Bishops, a representative body of bishops from around the world, to address the question of how the Church can best minister to contemporary family life. The result was a document titled “On Love in the Family” (OLF), which represented the consensus of the bishops – as well as the thought of the pope himself.

A. Yes. Not all Church documents are easy to read, often due to complex subject matter; but OLF has a simplicity and directness that makes it accessible to the average Catholic reader.

A. It provides a strong affirmation on the necessity of the Church, recognizing the challenges families face today. In particular, it calls for pastoral compassion for, and solidarity with, families in difficult situations. Pope Francis once said memorably that the Church should be like a “field hospital” for the suffering, the marginalized, and those with complicated lives. OLF strongly underlines the necessity of pastors accompanying those in complicated and irregular family situations. The words that best describe the document’s message are mercy, patience, compassion, forgiveness and solidarity.

A. First, the question of remarriage without an annulment. There was a highly charged debate on this matter at both synods, with the “liberals” holding that such couples be admitted to Communion with some liberality. The other side held the more “traditional” line that such admission is not possible. Pope Francis’ document sought to hold together the values of both sides. On the one hand, he repeated the traditional doctrine of the “conservatives,” and, at the same time, followed the more “liberal” line that couples in irregular situations require some leniency regarding the reception of Communion. On this matter, OLF strongly held the need for bishops and pastors to interpret each situation wisely, and to recognize that one size does not fit all.

A. On this matter, the document says very little. This may be seen as a plus and a minus. On the plus side, OLF did not repeat what some people held was a less sympathetic attitude to gay people found in earlier Vatican documents. On the negative side, some were disappointed that gay people looking to the Church for guidance found little that was helpful. For them, this was all the more disappointing because the matter was discussed vigorously at the 2014 Synod and many were expecting that Francis’ document would say that gay people might in some circumstances work out their salvation within a committed relationship.

A. Yes, in that the document recognizes that the matters discussed would need to be dealt with differently in different countries, and that pastoral diversity be respected.

A. It is available online on the Holy See website, from your local Catholic bookstore, from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, or from amazon.com.