Support at Synod for Divorced Catholics
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Bishop Nolan: Support Divine Mercy The Catholics I met charity in conference in China were keen your will, returns to to spread the Faith. see the Scotland. Page 3 B section. Pages 4-5 No 5644 VISIT YOUR NATIONAL CATHOLIC NEWSPAPER ONLINE AT WWW.SCONEWS.CO.UK Friday October 30 2015 | £1 VOICES RAISED IN FULL PRAISE TV’s Songs of Praise came to Scotland last week with Conductor John Bell (right) leading the singers (far right) gathered at St Andrew’s Cathedral in Glasgow. Terry Lavelle, who took part in the recording, said it was an honour to be part of the show, which will be broadcast next year. “I’m sure that the programme will be well received in all the areas that will tune into it,” he said. “The addition of our musical instrumentalists, and of course, our descant ladies were outstanding. Big thanks once more to John Bell, a conductor- comedian who was patient and untiring in his resolve to make this a special event.” PICS: PAUL McSHERRY Support at Synod for divorced Catholics I Bishops vote through, by a narrow margin, a recommendation for better pastoral support for Catholic divorcees By Ian Dunn published those votes. The paragraph dealing three paragraphs passed with a two-thirds majority Reflecting on the synod’s purpose, he said: specifically with leading divorced and remarried or more. The document—at least in the original “Certainly, the Synod was not about settling all the THE family synod has closed with bishops Catholics on a path of discernment passed with Italian—is a well-written text, full of profound and issues having to do with the family, but rather voting by a narrow margin to recommend that only one vote beyond the necessary two thirds. helpful insights into the challenges facing marriage attempting to see them in the light of the Gospel Pope Francis backs better pastoral support for As Pope Francis said at the beginning of the and family life today.” and the Church’s tradition and 2000-year history, divorced Catholics on a case-by-case basis. synod, Church doctrine on the meaning of marriage He also said ‘it is important to understand that bringing the joy of hope without falling into a Archbishop Philip Tartaglia of Glasgow, who as a lifelong bond between one man and one woman the synod document is not an end in itself.’ facile repetition of what is obvious or has already represented the Scottish Church at the synod, said open to having children was not up for debate. “Of itself it has no standing either in terms of been said.” it had been an ‘intense and absorbing’ process that The final report strongly affirmed that teaching doctrine or discipline,” he said. “It is an offering of In interviews after the synod’s final report was had ultimately reached ‘profound and helpful’ as God’s plan for humanity, as a blessing for the the Synod of Bishops to the Holy Father for his approved on October 24, leading prelates such as insights on ‘pastoral accompaniment.’ Church and a benefit to society. discernment and action. It is expected that the Holy Archbishop Bruno Forte and Cardinal George While insisting on God’s love for homosexual Father will in due course promulgate a post- Pell had offered contradictory interpretations of Synod report persons and the obligation to respect their dignity, synodal Exhortation. It is there that we will begin recommendations. While not specifically mentioning a proposal of a the report also insisted same-sex unions could not to see the fruits of the two Synods of 2014 and As the Synod of Bishops is a consultative body, path toward full reconciliation and Communion for be recognised as marriages and denounced as 2015 on the family.” Pope Francis is free to adopt or disregard portions the divorced and civilly remarried, members of the ‘totally unacceptable’governments or international of the final report as he sees fit in any post- Synod of Bishops on the Family sent Pope Francis organisations making recognition of ‘marriage’ Pope Francis synodal documents or decisions. a report emphasising an obligation to recognise between persons of the same sex a condition for The Pope himself said the true defenders of doctrine that not all Catholics in such a situation bear the financial assistance. are not those who uphold its letter, but its spirit in I More on synod, pages 6-7 same amount of blame. his closing address to the synod. The 94-paragraph report—approved on the last Reaction “The synod experience… made us better realise I [email protected] working day of the three-week synod—highlighted Archbishop Tartaglia, who told the SCO it had that the true defenders of doctrine are not those the role of pastors in helping couples understand been an honour to be the delegate of the Bishops’ who uphold its letter, but its spirit; not ideas but Church teaching, grow in faith and take responsibility Conference of Scotland to the family synods in people; not formulae but the gratuitousness of for sharing the Gospel. 2014 and 2015, said that the degree of disagreement God’s love and forgiveness,” the Pope said. “This It also emphasised how ‘pastoral accompaniment’ within the Synod had been overstated. is in no way to detract from the importance of involves discerning, on a case-by-case basis, the “The purpose was to furnish Pope Francis with formulae, laws and divine commandments, but moral culpability of people not fully living up to a document on the family, which had acquired the rather to exalt the greatness of the true God, who the Catholic ideal. agreement of at least two-thirds of the Synod does not treat us according to our merits or even Bishops and other full members of the synod Fathers,” he said. “In fact 91 of the 94 paragraphs according to our works but solely according to the voted separately on each paragraph and the Vatican were agreed with massive majorities. The remaining boundless generosity of his Mercy.” SCO, 19 Waterloo Street, Glasgow G2 6BT I tel 0141 221 4956 I fax 0141 221 4546 I e-mail [email protected] 2 WHAT’S ON SCOTTISH CATHOLIC OBSERVER FRIDAY OCTOBER 30 2015 SPOTLIGHT ON What’s On A weekly guide to upcoming Church-related The Schoenstatt Scotland events, more online at www.sconews.co.uk retreat centre in Campsie Glen welcomed Bishop John Keenan of Paisley THURSDAY NOVEMBER 5 (2014 Cert 15). New members I recently for a re-crowning Glasgow Faith Forum 2015: welcome. Free! Big screen and pilgrimage for a shrine to a series of talks for young speakers. Tea, coffee and chat. Our Lady. Amongst the people aged 16-25 at FRIDAY NOVEMBER 6 260 people present for Turnbull Hall, University of the Rosary, Mass and Glasgow Chaplaincy, ‘Sin is I St Clare’s Easterhouse procession to the shrine Real’ by Bishop Hugh Gilbert social night. Dance organised were Canon Sean Cunny, on Thursday November 5 at in the Masonic Hall for the Fr Charles McElwee and 7.30pm. new beginning of the parish Deacon Joe O’Donnell. I AGAP Film and Faith Club identity of St Benedict and St A number of young meets from 7-10pm on Thursday Clare. Tickets £5. Billy Catholics were also there November 5 at St Michael’s Hughes from Airdrie will sing on the day, and the Church Hall, 1350 Gallowgate. and entertain and lead the pilgrimage was greatly This month’s film is Calvary dancing. 7-11.30pm. assisted by the Knights of St Columba E-mail [email protected] PICS: PAUL McSHERRY Kraków 2016 World Youth Day Jim Cassidy’s idea to raise funds to help Scottish youth travel to World Youth Day in Krakov, Poland, in 2016 in honour of the newly canonised Sts John Paul II (who founded WYD) and John XXII has prompted the SCO to launch an appeal fund. Anyone wishing to support this cause can send their donation to The Scottish Catholic Observer Appeal Account, 19 Waterloo Street, Glasgow, G2 6BT marked WYD 16. The SCO will work with the Church and its associated youth ministries to make sure the funds go to helping young pilgrims get to Poland for the celebrations. Queen’s lieutenant visits Ozanam Club in Paisley THE queen’s representative presented the award to the in Renfrewshire presented a group—which meets twice a Paisley social club for people month in St Mirin’s Cathedral with learning disabilities Hall—and was joined by with a national honour for Bishop John Keenan of Paisley voluntary work last Friday. (below) in congratulating Paisley Ozanam Club—a the group. The award was special works conference of the originally announced in June. Society of St Vincent De The Ozanam Club provides Paul—were formally presented activities for children and with the Queen’s Award for adults with additional support Voluntary Service (left), a needs, and respite for parents group equivalent of an MBE. and carers. Lord-Lieutenant Guy Clark PICS: PAUL McSHERRY INSIDE YOUR SCO INDEX TO NEWS, OPINION AND FEATURES THIS WEEK EWTN CATHOLIC TV IS ON SKY EPG 589 Sky Freesat £175 total cost , no monthly charges. A SECTION VATICAN NEWS pages 6-7 INTIMATIONS pages 15-18 200 Free channels including EWTN TV & Radio. NEWS pages 1-7 FEATURES pages 8, 9, 10-11 BISHOPS’ ENGAGEMENTS page 18 Call Sky on 08442411602 for installation. LOCAL NEWS pages 2,3,4 and 5 FR ROLHEISER page 12 CHILDREN’S PAGE page 19 Call EWTN on 020 83502542 or e-mail [email protected] WHAT’S ON page 2 SPIRITUAL REFLECTION page 13 B SECTION for free monthly posted programme guide and WORLD NEWS pages 6-7 PUZZLES pages 14 and 19 WILLS AND LEGACIES pages 1-4 visit www.ewtn.co.uk for more info.