European, African bishops discuss family ahead of Synod
June 02, 2015
Four months before the opening of the next Synod of Bishops, representatives of the Council of the Bishops’ Conferences of Europe (CCEE) and the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) gathered in Maputo, Mozambique, to discuss the family.
The joint statement issued at the conclusion of the meeting avoided mention of controversial issues such as homosexuality and the admission to the sacraments of divorced persons in a non-sacramental civil marriage.
“We pray for the Holy Spirit to guide the thoughts and deliberations of the Fathers of the coming Synod,” the European and African bishops said in their joint statement. May the image of the family irradiate like the sun that although many times obscured by clouds still warms the hearts and lives of all human beings!”
“As bishops, we will double up our efforts to let this light of Christ shine, by increasing our pastoral care of the family, by preparing our youth for Holy Matrimony, by accompanying families with or without children, by taking care of the elderly and the divorced in whatever circumstances they live, and more,” they added.
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