English bishop welcomes priests' statement urging Synod to reaffirm Church teaching on marriage
May 11, 2015
An English bishop has applauded a public statement, signed by about 500 priests in England and Wales, urging the Synod of Bishops to release a clear affirmation of Church teaching on marriage.
Bishop Mark Davies of Shrewsbury thanked the priests who signed the statement for finding a “happy and unprecedented way” to become involved in the discussion leading up to the October meeting of the Synod. He added that priests recognize that “it will always take supernatural courage to stand in Christ’s truth in times of crisis and confusion.”
That response from Bishop Davies was markedly different from an earlier public statement by Cardinal Vincent Nichols of Westminster. The cardinal had chided the priests for releasing a public statement to the media, saying that discussion on these issues “is not best conducted through the press.”
In the US, nearly 1,000 priests have now signed a similar statement, calling for a clear statement from the Synod to ease confusion on Church teaching.
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Further information:
- Bishop Davies heartened by priests’ synod letter (Catholic Herald)
- English lay Catholics back priests' statement affirming Church teaching on marriage (CWN, 4/9)
- US priests urge Synod to issue clear affirmation of Church teaching on marriage (CWN, 4/27)
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