Four Suggestions For Those Following the Synod

Left: The pectoral cross of a Cardinal; right: New spouses exchange rings during a Mass in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican Sept. 14th. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)

Four Suggestions For Those Following the Synod | Bill Maguire | Catholic World Report

The central task of the Synod on the Family is to evangelize and proclaim the truth and beauty of her teachings concerning the human person, human sexuality, marriage, and family

The Extraordinary Meeting of the Synod of Bishops begins this Sunday, October 5th, and will last for two weeks, concluding on Sunday, October 19th with the Solemn Concelebration of the Holy Mass and the Beatification of the Servant of God Paul VI in St. Peter's Square. As the Synod gets underway, here are four suggestions—with an applicable verse from Sacred Scripture—for those interested in better grasping and more effectively articulating the beauty of the Church’s teaching on marriage and family:

First, listen to the Church’s teaching with fresh ears and avoid excessive preoccupation with controversial issues. “He who has ears to hear, let him hear” (Mk 4:9).

It is helpful to acknowledge from the outset that the Church and her teaching will likely come out the loser in mainstream media coverage of the Synod. Many of our reigning cultural elites and the institutions under their charge have too much vested in pushing their own agenda and worldview to give the Church a fair hearing.

Predictably, much of their coverage will focus exclusively on hot-button issues: the reception of Holy Communion for divorced and civilly remarried Catholics; the redefinition of marriage to include same-sex couples; the use of contraception; and so forth. Even these issues, however, will be covered only through a narrow lens: Closed-minded Conservative Prelates vs. Open-minded Progressive Prelates; The Wrong Side of History vs. The Right Side of History; The Church’s War against Women; and the like. 

It is incumbent on serious Catholics, therefore, to seek out thoughtful considerations of the Church's teaching, most of which will be found in faithful Catholic media outlets. Even then, however, it is best to avoid excessive concentration on the controversial issues, but rather listen with fresh ears to the Gospel of the Family. It is only within the context of deep and prayerful reflection on God’s revelation concerning marriage and family that light is shed on how to effectively understand and respond to the pressing moral and doctrinal questions.

Secondly, recognize the real battle over marriage and family is ultimately a spiritual battle. “We are not contenting against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness” (Eph 6:12).

It is good to keep in mind the following rule of thumb:

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