Thursday, December 5,' 1985 COURIER-JOURNAL Cardinal Krol asserts synod not effort to turn back clock By Agostino Bono ^ not as a delegate or as a vicar of the pope, Vatican City (NC) — The Nov. 24-Dec. 8 but by divine authority," said Cardinal Krol. extraordinary Synod of Bishops is not an "Finding a balance requires sensitivity," effort to turn back the Church clock to he said. preconciliar days, Cardinal John Krol of The problem is not theological, but finding Philadelphia, a synod official, said Nov. 25. the practical relationship between the pope Nor is it an effort to determine whether the and the local bishop, said Cardinal Danneels. post-conciliar era has been positive or "I don't believe we will find a solution negative, he said at a press conference held before Christ comes back," said Cardinal jointly with Cardinal Godfried Danneels of Danneels. Malines-Brussels, Belgium. Cardinal Krol called national bishops' The aim is to learn how to better conferences "useful and necessary pastoral implement council teachings, they said. instruments." Conferences have a collegial Cardinal Krol is one of the three synod dimension, but not everything they do is, co-presidents. Cardinal Danneels is., the re­ "strictly speaking, collegial because this cording secretary responsible for preparing refers to the relationship of the pope to all the official reports of synod proceedings. the bishops," he added. The primary "Even from a juridical standpoint, there is purpose of conferences is pastoral, to handle no way that the synod can overturn the issues at a national level or which go beyond ecumenical council," said Cardinal Krol. the scope of a single diocese, Cardinal Krol "We are seeking information from the said. world and suggestions on how to better Regarding amplication of council implement" council teachings, he added. teachings, Cardinal Krol said that over the past 20 years "implementation has exceeded At St. Peter's Basilica. Pope John Paul II with four world leaders celebrates the opening Cardinal Danneels said collegiality and the the great hopes of many of the members of Mass of the extraordinary Synod of Bishops. (NC photo) role of national bishops' conferences is a the council." main topic proposed for discussed by At the same time, there have been some hierarchies from the developed countries of problems because "change always brings Bishops call for more attention North America and Europe. some dust." Some hierarchies requested a discussion of Post-conciliar problems include insuffi­ the role! of women, he added. cient preparation for people to accept to families, rules on sacraments But most of those requests came from the particular pastoral attention at "those who liturgical changes, and laxity on moral issues By John Thavis > developed countries, said Cardinal Danneels, regarding sex, said Cardinal Danneels. Vatican City (NC) — Several bishops have lost their faith, or live as though they have lost it." He said the Church should • who prepared a summary for the synod Both cardinals were asked what they addressing the 1985 extraordinary synod delegates of the more than 100 presynod thought of conflicting assessments of the Nov. 27 said the Church should be more develop a "programmed strategy of spiritual renewal" that reaches out to falien-away reports submitted by bishops' conferences. post-conciliar Church offered by Cardinal attentive to the pastoral problems of Joseph Ratzinger, head of the Vatican Catholics, which include the Church's pro­ Catholics. These are less a priority for the Third The same theme was taken up by Arch­ World and communist-bloc hierarchies, he Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, hibition on contraception. and Bishop James Malone, president of the Archbishop Karl Berg of Salzburg, bishop Gabino Diaz Merchan of Oviedo, said. Spain. He told the synod that the Church "In Latin America the liberation of man U.S. bishops' conference. Austria, speaking for the Austrian bishops' In a book published earlier this year, conference, said a deeper study is needed of should carry on a "humble dialogue" with and human rights are problems of greater those who have drifted away. intensity," he said. Cardinal Ratzinger said the Church has the Church's birth control teaching "in the followed a course of self-destruction since light of medical progress." He added that the He also suggested that young people get In Africa and Asia the key issue is better instruction in the Second Vatican inculturation, he added. Vatican II. Bishop Malone has said the Church should "think again" about the term Church is basically "on track." "natural" in regard to birth control. Council, that seminary texts have a more Inculturation refers to the adaptation of pastoral orientation and that national bish­ Christianity to local culture and customs. The synod "is not a boxing match" Pope Paul VI's 1968 encyclical "Humanae between the two, said Cardinal Krol. Vitae" (Of Human Life) prohibited Catholic ops' conferences be strengthened. Cardinal Danneels said an African bishop The Church should lead the way in once told him it was hard for him to "Both views are valid, and both are couples from using contraception, but necessary to carry on the role of the synod," allowed for "natural" methods that rely on respecting >the role of women, Bishop An­ understand why Christ is always depicted as thony Mayala of Musoma, Tanzania, told a white man. he added. sexual abstinence during certain times of a "Two people are expressing judgments woman's fertility cycle. the synod. He added that a key problem About 60 percent of the synod delegates facing the modern Church is dealing with came from the developing countries, said based on their experiences," he said. Archbishop Berg told National Catholic diversity of local churches and cultures. Cardinal Danneels. "I don't expect the synod to canonize News Service after his speech that he was The central issue of the hierarchies of the Cardinal Ratzinger or Bishop Malone. We suggesting "possible modifications in this On one hand, he said, open theological disagreement on moral issues has confused communist-bloc nations is freedom to don't make sinners either," said Cardinal teaching could be studied, and should be express their religion, he added. Danneels. studied." the faithful, and so has diversity in pastoral practices. But he added that the "rigid Reports from those bishops' conferences Both cardinals said the question is not who He said pastoral problems have "greatly application" of new liturgical norms has set "are less explicit" because of their situa­ is right,bu t what are the facts. increased" in the.,area of marriage and the back honest attempts at inculturation. tions, said Cardinal Danneels. "How can The aim of the synod is a "realistic family and that the Church should stress The synod, called by Pope John Paul II to they preach the Gospel except in interpretation of the world beginning with greater pastoral formation among married examine the results of Vatican II, also heard martyrdom?" * objective truth," said Cardinal Danneels. couples. from Archbishop James M. Hayes of Regarding collegiality, the two cardinals "The important thing is, what did the "We must also think in terms of a more Halifax, Nova Scotia, who spoke of joint said the effort is to find a balance between council say," Cardinal Krol said. He said merciful approach to the divorced and Communion between Catholics and other papal authority over the universal Church reading all the council documents is more remarried," he said. The archbishop said the Christians. and the authority of a bishop in his own important than trying to discover a "spirit of Church should consider admitting Catholics "We would like to see this synod or some diocese. the council" or reading a few phrases out of in those situations to the sacraments after an similar group consider the full consequences "The bishop who rules his diocese rules context. appropriate "period of penance." of the formal recognition of baptism in other Church policy bars Catholics who divorce churches at Vatican II. Does it not open the and remarry from participating in the sacra­ way to certain rights and responsibilities, Synod Information ments. including the Eucharist?" said Archbishop The Catholic University of America is Archbishop Thomas Winning of Glasgow, Hayes, who is also vice president of the Monsignor John Tracy Ellis, professorial Canadian-Conference of Catholic Bishops. offering free information over the phone to lecturer in Church history, (202)635-5640; Scotland, said the Church should aim those interested in learning more about the extraordinary Synod of Bishops in Rome, Father Ladislas Orsy, SJ, professor of which started Sunday, Nov. 24, and will canon law, (202)635-5492 or (202)635-5662; continue until Sunday, Dec. 8. Father Carl J. Peter, CUA professor of Sources of information at the university theology, (202)635-5658 or (202)635-5683. * - * include: FOR MEN ONLY December 9 & 10 Give your pennies and 5 to 9 P.M. quiet money to . Let us help you choose "the perfect gift while you - pie our Irish Whisky Cake €dMeath's B South Main Street, Pittsford 248-8346 Mon.Sat. 10-5 % Sunday 10-3 TVIO Children's Christmas

191 East Ave. Rochester, New Yak 14604