We Are Church Intl.

“Follow Pope Francis’ way of dialogue and reform!”

[Portuguese]

To date more than 50 international Catholic organisations have signed an ‘Appeal to the Synodal Bishops’ due to meet in Rome in October 2015 to address major issues related to Catholic family life.

In a spirit of dialogue as urged by Pope Francis and motivated by the Spirit of God all of these organisations are calling on the bishops to listen attentively to what they are saying so as to make our Church a more compassionate family.

The outcomes from this Synod will have a critical bearing of the relevance of Catholicism to the needs of our time.

The Appeal outlines the fundamental problems experienced by Catholic families throughout the world:

The social and economic problems of the family should be widely discussed by the Synod, particularly those affecting the most vulnerable, children and women.

Regarding the divorced and remarried and their admission to the Eucharist, the practice of the early Church should be adopted, as it is done in the Orthodox Church.

Concerning the Motu Proprio (Apostolic letter) of Pope Francis on the canonical process of nullity of marriage we agree with and welcome the simplification of the procedure, but question the concept of annulment as such.

Homosexual individuals and same-sex couples should be considered as full members of the Church with every right and every duty.

‘Humanae Vitae’ has not been accepted by the majority of the People of God; couples following their conscience must be respected.

The Synod should send a clear and public message of repentance to the survivors of clerical sex abuse and their families.

However much we hope for solutions to these many problems from the presently constituted Synod we assert that a major flaw of the Synod is its clericalised nature and especially the non-representation of the many Catholic family forms we experience in our contemporary world.

The appeal was initiated by international reform movements who are organising two conferences in remembrance of the Second Vatican Council in Rome in November 2015. The appeal was signed by more than 50 reform movements from Europe, North and South America, Africa and Australia and is still awaiting more signatures.

The appeal was signed by more than 50 reform movements from Europe, North and South America, Africa and Australia and is still awaiting more signatures.

Rome, October 3, 2015

Links:

Appeal of international reform movements to the Synod Fathers in Rome: “Follow Pope Francis’ way of dialogue and reform!”

List of signing organisations:

http://www.wir-sind-kirche.de/?id=128&id_entry=5925#APPEAL_SYNOD_2015_SIGNEES

Further Information:

Christian Weisner, +49-172-5184082, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Dr Martha Heizer, +43-650-4168500, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Vittorio Bellavite, +39-3331309765, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Deborah Rose-Milavec, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (until October 9 & later in October)