Sign our open letter asking synod leaders to widen the circle of invitees at the 2015 Family Synod!

As we prepare for the Ordinary Synod of Bishops on the Family in October 2015, we continue the work Pope Francis advocates: "engaging in pastoral activity characterized by a 'culture of encounter' and capable of recognizing the Lord's gratuitous work, even outside customary models (Lineamenta)."

FutureChurch, as part of a coalition of Catholic organizations, invites you to tell our bishops that the Synod needs Catholic representatives from many constituencies in order to engage in the dialogue Pope Francis has promoted throughout his papacy.    

In this Open Letter we are asking the bishops of the world and Cardinal Lorenzo Baldisseri, secretary general of the Synod of Bishops, to widen the circle of invitees (auditors and experts) who will be invited to the synod in Rome to include divorced and remarried people, co-habitating couples, interfaith families, impoverished families, single parents, families with lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender members, same-sex couples, and families torn by the violence of war and abuse.  Hearing from those who understand the issues to be taken up from the inside, from experience, will create greater understanding among the synod fathers whose final recommendations to Pope Francis will likely impact our Church's pastoral practice for years to come.

To:  Cardinal Lorenzo Baldisseri and the Bishops of the World

As faithful Catholics, we are deeply concerned that the perspective and experience of a large number of Catholics will not be represented at the upcoming Synod. Therefore, we are writing to urge you to widen the circle of people invited to participate in the upcoming Family Synod 2015.  

We know our Church would benefit from listening to representatives of the many constituencies present in the church community and from engaging in the dialogue Pope Francis has been calling for since the beginning of his papacy.  The Lineamenta points out, "In Evangelii Gaudium, Pope Francis advocates for engaging in pastoral activity characterized by a 'culture of encounter' and capable of recognizing the Lord's gratuitous work, even outside customary models."  

We urge the Vatican Synod office to make every effort to include a wide diversity of Catholics, especially those from the constituencies being discussed including divorced and remarried people, cohabitating couples, interfaith families, impoverished families, single parents, families with lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender members, same-sex couples, and families torn by the violence of war and abuse.  These women and men can share their lives and stories in a way that creates greater understanding among the bishops who will, in the end, make critical recommendations about the Church's priorities and pastoral practices for years to come.

We ask that Synod planners reach out to those on "life's periphery" (Evangelii Gaudium), those who have not felt welcome in our church. Their invaluable perspectives will greatly enrich and enlighten discussion at the Ordinary Synod on the Family in October.

As stated in Sensus Fidei in the Life of the Church (2014):  "The baptized....are endowed as members of the body of the Lord with gifts and charisms for the renewal and building up of the Church....Not only do they have the right to be heard, but their reaction to what is proposed as belonging to the faith must be taken very seriously. . . " (#74).

We assure you that the mission of the Family Synod is in our prayers.   

Please sign our open letter.   

Here are some other actions to promote listening and dialogue in the lead up to the 2015 Family Synod.   

Ask your bishop to ensure dialogue will take place in your diocese surrounding the synod issues and processes.

Meet with your bishop to talk about the synod issues and processes.

Have a listening session in your parish/community (resources available soon)! 

FutureChurch

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