From: Ouko joachim omolo
The News Dispatch with Omolo Beste
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2013

For Catholics who might have began rejoicing after news that the Vatican has asked for the world’s bishops to distribute among Catholics a questionnaire on issues like contraception, same-sex marriage and divorce should stop doing so.

This is after the Vatican’s chief spokesman clarified in an interview over the weekend that the Vatican’s request for the world’s bishops to survey Catholics on how certain topics affect their lives was part of a habitual “praxis.”

Although the official who sent the questionnaire said Tuesday it is part of a wide-ranging project to reform how the Vatican reaches out to bishops and faithful around the world, the Vatican has warned Catholics not to expect rapid change in the Church’s stance on major social issues, whatever the results of a global survey it is carrying out.

Ahead of a special meeting of bishops next October, a questionnaire has been sent Oct. 18 by the Vatican’s Synod of Bishops, which is preparing a global meeting of prelates for next October on the theme of the family.

Called by Pope Francis last month, the Oct. 5-19, 2014, meeting is to focus on the theme “Pastoral Challenges of the Family in the Context of Evangelization.” It asks for the opinions of parish priests and parishioners on issues such as same-sex marriage, birth control and divorce.

At a news conference the meeting’s coordinator said the Church did not want to re-open the whole debate on Catholic doctrine because the synod does not make decisions based on the majority of public opinion.

The questionnaire asks about local church attitudes towards same-sex couples, and tackles once-taboo issues such as how to include the adopted children of gay couples in the Church.

Same-sex unions, mixed marriages, single-parent families and surrogate mothers are all mentioned in the prelude to a list of questions. This is how the question is formulated:

“What pastoral attention can be given to people who live in these types of [same-sex] union?”

“In the case of unions of persons of the same sex who have adopted children, what can be done pastorally in light of transmitting the faith?”

“Do [the divorced and remarried] feel marginalized or suffer from the impossibility of receiving the sacraments?”

“In cases where non-practicing Catholics or declared non-believers request the celebration of marriage, describe how this pastoral challenge is dealt with.”

Although the Church remains opposed to same-sex marriage but Pope Francis has called for more tolerance towards homosexual people, especially what to do with their adopted children, to be included or not included in the church.

Fr. Federico Lombardi, however, said in an interview with the Catholic News Agency on Saturday that the questions will only be used by the synod in an advisory way. Lombardi is the director of the Holy See Press Office.

In another development, despite speculation by the media and a number of Catholic scholars that Pope Francis could name the Church’s first female cardinal next February, the Vatican has rebuked those claims, saying that the unprecedented event will not take place.

“This is just nonsense . . . It is simply not a realistic possibility that Pope Francis will name women cardinals,” Fr. Federico Lombardi, told The Irish Times. Lombardi says this is only possible theologically and theoretically.

“Being a cardinal is one of those roles in the church for which, theoretically, you do not have to be ordained but to move from there to suggesting the pope will name women cardinals for the next consistory is not remotely realistic.”

This follows Lombardi’s comments last week when he stressed to the public that they should expect nothing out of the ordinary come February. “Stay calm, no nomination of women cardinals are due,” Lombardi said.

The heightened speculation comes at a time when Pope Francis has publicly addressed the Catholic Church’s need to develop “a truly deep theology of women,” but has refrained from publicly elaborating on any structural changes that would install women in the Catholic Church’s leadership apparatus.

Fr Joachim Omolo Ouko, AJ
Tel +254 7350 14559/+254 722 623 578
E-mail omolo.ouko@gmail.com
Facebook-omolo beste
Twitter-@8000accomole

Real change must come from ordinary people who refuse to be taken hostage by the weapons of politicians in the face of inequality, racism and oppression, but march together towards a clear and unambiguous goal.

-Anne Montgomery, RSCJ
UN Disarmament
Conference, 2002