Pope’s most recent document, On the Joy of Love, which is his reflection on marriage and family life in light of the recent Synods of Bishops in Rome, is a powerful and wonderful pastoral encouragement for the Church.
I want to offer a few important takeaways from it thus far.
1.Relationships and family life are complex! Let us take some time to be aware of the complexity and not draw quick judgments about other people’s lives.
2.Marriage and family life have a sacramental character to them, a grace that marks them as holy even in the midst of difficulties. Church will continue to uphold the ideals of sacramental marriage and the call to holiness in family life.
3.Catholics who are in irregular relationships, for example, civilly married but not married in the Church, need to be accompanied and helped in their faith journey and not condemned. Confessors and pastors need to work gently and with encouragement for people in these situations.
4.People must follow their consciences when making decisions about relationships and what is right in a particular circumstance. However, they need to have an educated, informed conscience, and not merely act on changeable feelings.
5.We are called to be respectful and welcoming to all persons, regardless of their marital status, sexuality, or past history. There is never a good reason to be deliberately disrespectful to others.
(Short summary written by Fr. Larry Christian)
