Avoid harsh language in discussing marriage, Synod fathers suggest
October 07, 2014
In discussions of marriage, Catholics should avoid harsh expressions that could turn people away from the Church, some bishops have suggested during discussions at this week’s meetings of the Synod of Bishops. Briefing reporters about the Synod discussions on October 7, Father Thomas Rosica, an official of the Vatican press office, said that one bishop had found fault with phrases such as “the contraceptive mentality” and “intrinsically disordered.” (St. John Paul II referred to the “contraceptive mentality” in Familiaris Consortio; the Catechism of the Catholic Church refers to homosexual acts as “intrinsically disordered.”)
Father Rosica did not identity the bishop who had objected to these phrases, but said that more than one Synod participant had made the point. He cited one speaker’s argument that the Catholic teaching on marriage is “filtered in harsh language through the Church.” The prelates said that the Church must find more attractive ways of presenting her teaching.
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Posted by: claude-ccc2991 -
Oct. 08, 2014 11:39 AM ET USA
Perhaps this aversion to direct statements is exactly what our Lord meant when He critically said "Let your 'Yes' mean 'Yes,' and your 'No' mean 'No.' Anything more is from the evil one" (Matthew 5:37).
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Posted by: garedawg -
Oct. 08, 2014 10:29 AM ET USA
Such a shame that someone wants to tone down the language. And I always thought that the phrase "Culture of Death" has such a nice, dramatic flair!
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Posted by: Chestertonian -
Oct. 08, 2014 2:23 AM ET USA
Randal is correct; fuzzy language indicates or leads to fuzzy thinking. So, if the prelates don't like JPII's verbiage, have they suggested alternatives, or are they just whining? It accomplishes nothing to complain without offering a solution, and the alternative will likely hide the truth. And, as Truth is somebody--Jesus Christ, not something, He must never be obscured for the sake of 'kindness'.
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Posted by: dover beachcomber -
Oct. 07, 2014 11:30 PM ET USA
The Catholic teaching on marriage is simply Jesus' teaching on marriage. I'm not sure there's a "more attractive" way of delivering the teaching on divorce, remarriage, and the Eucharist than "If you do that, you're endangering your immortal soul." When did the Great Commission become "Give no offense?"
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Posted by: Randal Mandock -
Oct. 07, 2014 4:16 PM ET USA
Off to a good start? First item on the agenda: political correctness. What type of convoluted logic equates precision in language with harshness of the message? Given the quality of bishops in recent years, I guess we should have expected this nonsense. I wonder if the bishops will figure out that the problem is not the message, but the lack of the message. No one who pays attention can deny the horrendous state of catechesis across the Catholic world. Deceptive catechesis leads to disunity.
