BEVERLY HILLS, April 08, (THEWILL) – Pope Francis has called for the church to be more tolerant in practice and be more accepting of gays and lesbians, divorced Catholics and other people living in what the church considers “irregular” situations.
While not changing the official doctrine, he emphasizes that unjust discrimination against gay men and lesbians is unacceptable as he downplays the idea of living in sin, urging priests to use their own discretion on whether divorced Catholics in new marriages can take Communion.
“The divorced who have entered a new union should be made to feel part of church” he wrote in the 256-page document, two years in the making, written from Francis’ heart for the church to stop hectoring Catholics about how to live their lives and instead find the redeeming value in their imperfect relationships.
“A pastor cannot feel that it is enough simply to apply moral laws … as if they were stones to throw at people’s lives.
“By thinking that everything is black and white, we sometimes close off the way of grace and growth.
“I understand those who prefer a more rigorous pastoral care which leaves no room for confusion.
“But I sincerely believe that Jesus wants a church attentive to the goodness which the Holy Spirit sows in the midst of human weakness.
On thorny issues such as contraception, Francis stressed that a couple’s individual conscience educated in church teaching — and not just dogmatic rules imposed on them across the board from above — must guide their decisions and the church’s pastoral practice.
“We have been called to form consciences, not to replace them,” he said.
He insisted the church’s aim is to reintegrate and welcome all its members. He called for a new language to help Catholic families cope with today’s problems. And he said pastors must take into account mitigating factors — fear, ignorance, habits and duress — in counselling Catholics who fail to live up to the ideal.
“It can no longer simply be said that all those in any irregular situations are living in a state of mortal sin and are deprived of sanctifying grace,” he wrote.
“Even those in an objective situation of sin can be in a state of grace, and can even be more pleasing to God by trying to improve.
Story by David Oputah
