By Peter Bugden
AUSTRALIANS invited to the extraordinary Synod of Bishops on the family are not hoping for changes in Church teaching, but for better ways to spread its message of love and compassion and to pastorally support families.
That was a consensus among some of those who will attend the synod from October 5-19 in Rome.
The extraordinary synod is being held in preparation for an ordinary synod on the same topic next year.
The Holy See recently announced four Australians among lay people who will be attending the extraordinary synod.
They are World Organisation of the Ovulation Billings Method in Australia co-ordinator Joan Clements, of Melbourne; Sydney archdiocese’s Life, Marriage and Family Centre director Christopher Meney; and chairs of the Australian bishops’ Catholic Marriage and Family Council Dr Ron and Mavis Pirola, of Sydney.
Synod discussions will centre on the theme “The pastoral challenges of the family in the context of evangelisation”.
A working document for the extraordinary synod was released two months ago.
Brisbane’s John Paul II Centre for Family and Life director Dr Ray Campbell said this document, which drew on a worldwide survey on issues relating to family life and Church teaching, highlighted the challenges facing the family and the Church’s mission to the family today.
Mr Meney said the synod was important because it was centred on the various pastoral challenges to the family and the impact on evangelisation.
“This is not a doctrinal synod and will have a pastoral focus and explore possibilities for assisting families in their important work,” he said.
Mr Meney said he thought Pope Francis was “serious about his desire for the synod to explore ways to pastorally support the family”.
“This will involve potentially at least, a consideration of the various ‘points of strain’, which exist and impede a closer integration of many families within the life of the Church.
“Some of these relate to family breakdown and to situations where children make choices which are contrary to the desires of parents and the teachings of the Church.
Mrs Pirola said, with the Church facing many challenges on many fronts, the “domestic church” of the family could be a “beacon” for how the universal Church should handle those challenges.
Dr Pirola said the synod was important because family was so important as a major training ground in faith.
“Family is all about life – all about our deepest hopes, our deepest dreams, our deepest experiences,” he said.
He said he hoped for change, not in Church rules or doctrine, but in finding better ways for the Church to show its care for people.
Dr Pirola said people saw the Church as a body of rules and as a place of judgment.
“They don’t feel welcomed,” he said.
“People should feel loved and supported.”
Dr Pirola said he and Mrs Pirola were full of enthusiasm and optimism about the synod.
“We’re particularly encouraged by Pope Francis,” he said.
“Not that we see that he’s changing anything.
“He’s not changing any Church rules or doctrine (but) the way he’s open and approachable, he helps us see how we should be more approachable for people …”
Mrs Clements said: “We hope that we will get an understanding from the bishops that the Church needs to more actively promote that natural family planning is a viable option for married couples and totally in line with Church teach on marriage and family.”
Former Archbishop of Sydney Cardinal George Pell will attend as prefect of the Vatican Secretariat for the Economy and as a member of the synod’s ordinary council and Melbourne Archbishop Denis Hart will be there as the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference president.
