Swiss Catholics call for same-sex partnerships, change in teaching on Communion
May 07, 2015
Five months before the upcoming Synod of Bishops, the Swiss Bishops’ Conference has published a report summarizing the results of recent discussions by Swiss Catholics on marriage and family life.
Six thousand persons, the majority of them clergy, catechists, and active parishioners, took part in the discussions, which were held between January and March.
“The exclusion of remarried divorcees from the sacraments must be ended,” stated Walter Müller, the bishops’ information officer, as he summarized Swiss Catholics’ “very concrete requests to Rome.”
“Partnerships for gays and lesbians should have a place in the Church,” he added, as he noted that only a “small minority” of Swiss Catholics supported the “current doctrine of the Church with its rigid discipline.”
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Posted by: Bveritas2322 -
May. 08, 2015 1:45 PM ET USA
The sin of pride can exist at levels of mortal sin. Perhaps there are many more who should refrain from Holy Communion.
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Posted by: extremeCatholic -
May. 07, 2015 10:24 PM ET USA
I wonder if the "six thousand" believe that Catholic doctrine was determined by Jesus 2000 years ago, or if this is up to their 2015 vote. If it is up to Jesus, let me be in that Church. If it is up to the six thousand, let them be cut off. Anathema sit.
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Posted by: Jerz -
May. 07, 2015 10:12 PM ET USA
Pope Francis invited debate on these issues so I'm sure he's not shocked or scandalized by the conclusions of this report. But it's pretty amazing how the conclusions are presented as demands rather than recommendations. With no hint of deference to the Holy Father's final decision, sounds like wacondaseeds4507 might be onto something. I pray there is a final decisive decree from Pope Francis to clear all of this up.
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Posted by: lauriem5377 -
May. 07, 2015 10:10 PM ET USA
I am confused. Since when do we decide what teachings of Our Lord and His Church that we 'support'.
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Posted by: JimKcda -
May. 07, 2015 9:10 PM ET USA
Catholic teaching is that NONE OF US are permitted to receive the Eucharist while in the state of MORTAL SIN. Sex outside of marriage is mortally sinful. That would have to be changed before the Eucharist could be approved for sexually active single persons, remarried persons, same sex folks, priests, etc? What is so hard to understand about that? If you can't follow that teaching, go join some other organization that has different teachings. Catholics follow this teaching of Jesus Christ.
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Posted by: filioque -
May. 07, 2015 6:48 PM ET USA
This is what comes from not catechizing for 50 years.
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Posted by: Randal Mandock -
May. 07, 2015 3:09 PM ET USA
Can you imagine the challenge posed to drill instructors by new recruits entering the Swiss Guard? I came from a similar decadent culture when I was recruited into the USMC in 1972. My drill instructors had a field day with me. Consider as well the conditions on the ground in Switzerland. The majority of those surveyed were clergy, catechists, and active parishioners; i.e., the workhorses of the Swiss Church. The corruption appears to be across the board. Where are the 6th and 9th commandments?
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Posted by: d.freyberger5056 -
May. 07, 2015 1:01 PM ET USA
Lord, forgive them, for they know not what they do.
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Posted by: wacondaseeds4507 -
May. 07, 2015 12:44 PM ET USA
Looks like a second Protestant Deformation is underway.
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Posted by: feedback -
May. 07, 2015 10:44 AM ET USA
"God patiently waited in the days of Noah during the building of the ark, in which a few persons, eight in all, were saved." [1 Peter 3:20] This means that God is not persuaded by majority opinion.
