Pope Francis is pushing the envelope on conservative Catholicism again and calling on the church to be more tolerant of gays and lesbians, divorced Catholics and other people living in what the church considers “irregular” situations.
“A pastor cannot feel that it is enough simply to apply moral laws … as if they were stones to throw at people’s lives,” Pope Francis writes in a new document on family life that argue the Church to show more understanding of modern realities.
“By thinking that everything is black and white, we sometimes close off the way of grace and growth,” he writes.
The papers, entitled “On Love in the Family,” does not call for a change in Catholic doctrine. And, it doesn’t appear that the Pope intends to change the Roman Church’s overall position on these matters.
Rather, he wants to see a more welcoming church culture. Francis urged priests to exercise careful discernment over “wounded families” and be merciful, rather than judgmental.
The document also addresses divorcees remarrying, contraception, women and sex education.
The document is the culmination of three years’ work by the Pope, who sent a questionnaire to families across the world asking them about their hopes and their fears.
He then brought bishops and cardinals together for two Synods in Rome, at which he encouraged them to debate and even to disagree over issues that divide the Church in many countries.
Among the most divisive issues are offering communion to the divorced and remarried, contraception and the treatment of gay Catholics.
Our correspondent, Caroline Wyatt, says the lengthy document shows exactly where Pope Francis stands as he steps into the minefield of Catholic teaching on the family.
editor@ugchristiannews.com
