PURPOSE

The purpose of this document is to present an outline of what the outcome of the Synod 2015 On Family and Evangelization should be, regardless of the official report which is yet to come.


BACKGROUND

The Introduction of the Preparatory Document of the Synod 2015 on Family and Evangelization (1) can be summed up as follows:


Although the full Instruction (1) is quite lengthy and includes lesser socio-spiritual anomalies, the above constitutes the crux of the matter.


INTRODUCTION

It would be presumptuous to think that we will answer all the questions related to, and provide solutions to, today’s rapidly spreading socio-spiritual anomalies.

However, it is the Will of God that we identify the background against which any evaluation and decision should be arrived at.

There is a behavior that Jesus highlighted which carries most grave consequences – possibly only second to blaspheming against the Holy Spirit [Mark 3:29]. That behavior is to cause scandal – specifically Institutional scandal.


Let us not fall into the trap of thinking that Jesus was only referring about children because of their young age. He was, and is, referring to the children as He clearly defined them:


Therefore, any solution to the problems dealt with in the Synod on the Family and Evangelization must never, ever!, cause scandal amongst the Faithful of any age.


DETAILS

We shall take the key issues one by one and propose how they can be dealt with without causing scandal.

A. Regarding divorced Catholics

We have covered extensively this issue in a document (2) fully dedicated to it. However, we will summarize it as follows::


This does not mean that a divorced and remarried individual who broke a properly-established Sacramental Matrimony should not be able to participate at Mass. Actually, they should be welcomed, with the exception of partaking of the Body of Christ.

However, there is something that could be done to increase their participation during Mass. The following practice is done in the Orthodox Catholic liturgy. Allow us to explain...

In the Roman Catholic Eucharistic Prayer we read:


When the officiating priest says: “we ask you to accept and bless + these gifts we offer you in sacrifice” he is to make the sign of the cross over the gifts – that is, he is blessing them. Now the species are blessed, but not transubstantiated.

In the Orthodox Catholic liturgy, part of that blessed bread is then separated so that it can be given to those who are not in a spiritual situation to consume the true Body of Christ. The rest will eventually be transubstantiated into the Body of Christ and given as Holy Communion.

In this manner, the individual who has broken the Sacrament of Matrimony still can actively participate in the Mass and, if it is the Will of God —the ultimate Judge— a valid Spiritual Communion could be achieved.


B. Regarding homosexuality

In this situation, the promotion of homosexuality as a real option must be avoided, as we have explained in our document (3) dealing with homosexuality. However, there are constructive ways the Catholic Faith can minister to homosexuals without promoting their lifestyle or causing scandal.

We have witnessed this first hand in a very large Archdiocese in the U.S.

What the reader must first understand about homosexuals is that many of them do not / cannot view intimate homosexual acts as being against Divine Designs. We will use this specific group for the purpose of this discussion.

Marriage is a Biblical institution between members of the opposite sex. Therefore, a Sacramental marriage among homosexuals is impossible. This is an open-and-shut case, as there is really nothing to discuss since the core Biblical teachings are not negotiable.

However, communion is possible for practicing homosexuals as long as no scandal is caused.

How is this possible? As we said, many homosexuals sincerely believe that intimate homosexual acts are not against the Divine Designs. In addition, let us not forget that gender orientation was not assumed as part of a Sacramental commitment, and, as we discussed in the already mentioned document, (3) an individual may be born with that inclination or attain it through sexual abuse.

There is a group in the U.S. and Canada called Dignity (4). It is composed of homosexual Catholics. To better understand Dignity, think of it this way: A parish, mostly composed of homosexuals, in which the Sacraments of Baptism, Reconciliation and the Mass are dispensed by a regularly-ordained Catholic priest at any location except in a regular parish church or chapel.

In the Archdiocese mentioned above, this was done under the watchful and approving eye of the head of the Archdiocese. It is hoped that by feeding the soul of this particular group of Faithful with the Body and Blood of Christ, as well as their partaking of other Sacraments (except Marriage), they will be able to recognize that intimate homosexual acts are indeed against the Divine Designs, thus resulting in their moving away from such behavior.

Why is Dignity not able to operate openly in a regular parish? Because the rank and file of the grossly under Evangelized parishioners cannot understand the theology that we have explained above and the outcome would be a scandal with grave spiritual repercussions as well as the promotion of homosexuality.



Let us now proceed...


C. Regarding extraordinary adoptions

The receiving within the Parish Family an obvious couple of the same gender who have either (a) adopted a child, or (b) via artificial means, one of the partners conceived the child, which they are raising together, is unacceptable.

That is unacceptable because in most cases, the child is being programmed into homosexuality. And that is, as we have explained elsewhere (3), not to be condoned. However, this does not mean that if the child is brought to Church to be baptized, he/she should be turned away. On the contrary. It is a golden opportunity to help that child from falling into grave sin.


D. Regarding legitimate —not post birth reprogrammed— transsexual individuals

To address this situation let us start from the very beginning...

When ovum is fertilized and the child begins to be formed in the mother’s womb, gender has not been determined yet so the body being formed is, shall we say, unisex – it can go either way (5)(6). At the appropriate time in the uterine development of the child, the gender is defined and henceforth the body will develop with all the hormonal attributes of the determined gender.

Now then – What if there is a genetic error and the hormones which determine the body are not in harmony with the hormones which will determine the emotional characteristics of the newborn? We then have a child which fits the often heard description: “a male in a female body” or “a female in a male body”. Are we then going to ostracize from the Faith that human being because of a genetic error? Of course not!

Although it is a rather complex situation, a good Shepherd can integrate that redefined individual into his flock without causing scandal.

Remember now – we are speaking about a legitimate —not a post birth reprogrammed— transsexual individual.

Someone may ask – What about the soul of that individual? Blessedly, Jesus answered that question too.


The above message —that souls and spirits do not possess a specific gender— is so important that it appears in the Gospels according Matthew, Mark and Luke.


E. Regarding those who cohabitate without the benefit of a Sacramental Marriage

This is the easiest socio-spiritual anomaly to deal with. If a couple does not believe in the importance and value of a Sacramental Marriage —that is, in the importance of a Sacrament— they should not be upset if they are denied Holy Communion. However, they should be made to feel welcome in the Parish Community and partake of the blessed bread spoken about in the beginning of this document – were it available.

One never knows. One day, the Holy Spirit of God may be able to move them to request a Sacramental Marriage. That would be very unlikely if they had not been welcome in a Parish Family.


F. Regarding artificial birth control

If the alleged shepherds would make time to pray, they would finally understand what is truly behind their ban on artificial birth control. It is the same core reason as to why Muslims forbid the ingestion of alcoholic beverages. That reason is the inability for man —when he is devoid of the guidance by the Holy Spirit of God— to exercise self control.

Why are Muslims able to avoid ingesting alcohol? It is because most, who are not religious fanatics, were properly educated in their faith. They recognize their limitations and weaknesses, thus the dangers that drinking alcohol may pose for them.

The ban on artificial birth control attempts to force man not to treat sexual interaction as just another sport. However, what the above-mentioned shepherds have failed to realize is that humans, without the proper Evangelization, do turn sexual interaction into just another sport, and they could not care less about such bans or the consequences of their violation.

Adults united by a valid Sacramental Marriage and guided by the Holy Spirit of God would responsibly use the gift of sexual interaction with a loved one without the interference and/or limitations from those who do not even understand the reason for such ban.

The fallout from such failed theology is the demonization of all protected sexual interaction. This has resulted in: (a) Forcing intelligent humans to reject not only the ban, but also many other soul-saving aspects of the Faith; and (b) Forcing ignorant humans, who would view protected sex as a demonic act, to become infected.

Solution: Approve protected sexual interaction as a stopgap measure to reduce the death toll caused by AIDS while providing proper Evangelization which —if humanity had the time— would develop responsible adults who would seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit of God.


CONCLUSION

We believe that what we have set forth above reflects the Will of God for we do not have the spiritual and/or intellectual capacity to be able to propose such a harmonious solution for the socio-spiritual tangled web which has resulted from a completely failed Evangelization effort by the Roman Catholic Church.









In Spanish:  El Sínodo 2015 sobre la Familia y la Evangelización - Cuáles deberían ser las conclusiones

Published on November 29, 2015 - First Sunday of Advent • Reissued on November 14, 2023