In the hour dedicated to open discussion ? from 6 to 7 p.m. ? attention   
   returned to the need for a new language in the proclamation of the Gospel,   
   with particular reference to the new media technologies. With regard to the   
   indissolubility of marriage, it was highlighted that today it would appear   
   that the law is opposed to the good of the person. In reality, the truth of   
   the conjugal bond and its stability is inscribed within the person, and   
   therefore it is not a question of setting the law and the person in opposition   
   to each other, but rather of understanding how to help the person not to   
   betray his or her own truth.   
    Further reflection was proposed in relation to families who have not received   
   the gift of children despite wishing for them, and those in regions affected   
   by the Ebola virus.   
    Finally, the image of the Church as light was recalled, in the hope that this   
   may be not only the light of a beacon, that remains constant and illuminates   
   from afar, but also a torch, or rather a ?soft light? that accompanies   
   humanity on its path, step by step.   
    The Pontifical Council for the Family donated to the members of the Synod a   
   copy of the extensive Enchiridion on the family.   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
    Fifth General Congregation: critical situations within the family, the   
   question of mixed marriages, and mercy and truth for the divorced and remarried   
    Vatican City, 8 October 2014 (VIS) ? In the fifth general Congregation, which   
   took place tis morning and which the Holy Father did not attend on account of   
   the general audience, the general debate continued on the themes outlined in   
   the Instrumentum laboris: ?The Pastoral Challenges of the Family (Part II,   
   Chapter 2). The Crisis of Faith and Family Life / Critical Situations within   
   the Family / External Pressures on the Family / Special Situations?.   
    First and foremost, the debate focused on the Church in the Middle East and   
   in North Africa. Both exist in difficult political, economic and religious   
   situations, with serious repercussions on families. Where there are laws that   
   impede the reunification of families, poverty leads to migration, where there   
   is religious fundamentalism and Christians do not enjoy equal rights with   
   Muslim citizens, there are often difficult problems for families resulting   
   from mixed marriages.   
    Indeed, in these contexts, interreligious or so-called ?mixed? marriages are   
   present and on the increase in these contexts. It was said that the challenge   
   of the Church is therefore to understand what form of catechesis may be   
   offered to children born of such a union and how it is possible to respect to   
   the unknown situation of those Catholics who, united in mixed marriages, wish   
   to continue to practice their religion. Such couples, it was said, must not be   
   neglected and the Church must continue to take care of them. A further   
   challenge is also represented by those Christians who convert to Islam in   
   order to marry: also in this case, suitable reflection is necessary.   
    The question is not simply interreligious, but at times also ecumenical:   
   there are cases in which a Catholic who has contracted a canonical marriage   
   and is not able to obtain a declaration of nullity passes to another Christian   
   confession, remarrying in a Church which permits this. In any case, without   
   prejudice to the shared patrimony of faith, the need to follow the path of   
   mercy in difficult situations was underlined.   
    With regard to the question of divorced and remarried persons, it was   
   highlighted that the Synod must certainly take the issue into consideration,   
   with the prudence required for important matters, but must also combine the   
   objectivity of truth with mercy for the person and for his or her suffering.   
   It is necessary to remember that many faithful find themselves in this   
   situation through no fault of their own.   
    Mention was made of the commitment of the Holy See, whose voice is always   
   heard in the defence of families at all levels ? international, national and   
   regional ? with the aim of emphasising its dignity, its rights and duties, and   
   always noting that, as Benedict XVI said, her ?no? is in reality a ?yes? to   
   life. Therefore, it was underlined that the Church must combat the educational   
   and religious silence in families, as there is no place for hesitation and   
   greater commitment to witnessing the Gospel is needed. Creativity in pastoral   
   ministry is always necessary.   
    The Assembly went on to reflect on the indispensable contribution of the lay   
   faithful to the proclamation of the Gospel in the family: in particular, the   
   young, ecclesial movements and new communities provide a service of vital   
   importance, carrying out a prophetic mission that runs counter to the current   
   of our times. Listening and believing in the laity, therefore, is shown to be   
   essential, as it is in them and with them that the Church may find the answers   
   to the problems of the family.   
    Another theme taken into consideration was that of the precariousness of work   
   and unemployment. The distress caused by the lack of a secure job creates   
   difficulties within families, along with the poverty that often prevents   
   families from having a home. Furthermore, a lack of money often leads to it   
   becoming ?deified? and to families being sacrificed on the altar of profit. It   
   is necessary to re-emphasise that money must serve rather than govern.   
    There was further reflection on the need for greater preparation for   
   marriage, also with special attention to emotional and sexual education,   
   encouraging a true mystical and familiar approach to sexuality. The great   
   contribution of grandparents to the transmission of faith in families was then   
   recalled and it was highlighted how important it is for the family unit to   
   welcome the elderly with solidarity, care and tenderness. The same care must   
   be reserved to the sick, to overcome the ?throwaway culture? that Pope Francis   
   frequently warns against.   
      
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    Other Pontifical Acts   
    Vatican City, 8 October 2014 (VIS) ? The Holy Father has:   
    - appointed Bishop Fausto Tardelli of San Miniato, Italy, as bishop of   
   Pistoia (area 821, population 228,600, Catholics 219,300, priests 119,   
   permanent deacons 22, religious 178), Italy.   
    - Bishop Celso Morga Iruzubieta, secretary of the Congregation for the   
   Clergy, as coadjutor of the archdiocese of Merida-Badajoz (area 17,405,   
   population 597,300, Catholics 588,100, priests 311, religious 637), Spain.   
    - appointed Msgr. Levi Bonatto, of the personal prelature of the Holy Cross   
   and Opus Dei, as auxiliary of the archdiocese of Goiania (area 13,320,   
   population 2,024,000, Catholics 1,221,000, priests 208, permanent deacons 14,   
   religious 573), Brazil. The bishop-elect was born in Sao Jose dos Pinhais,   
   Brazil in 1957 and was ordained a priest in 1996. He holds a degree in   
   economics from the Federal University of the State of Parana and a degree in   
   canon law from the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome, and has   
   served in a number of pastoral roles, including chaplain of the ?Castelo?   
   cultural centre in Campinas and of the ?Alfa e Esplanada? cultural centre in   
   Sao Jose dos Campos; spiritual father for seminarians in the diocese of Sao   
   Jose dos Campos; chaplain of the ?Os Pinhais? professional centre for girls   
   with limited economic resources, and professor of canon law and theology at   
   the ?Studium Generale? of Opus Dei in Sao Paulo. He is currentlychaplain of   
   the ?Marumbi? cultural centre, coordinator of the ?Santa Cruz? priestly   
   society in the State of Parana and confessor at the ?Sao Jose? minor seminary   
   of Curitiba.   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
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    * Origin: Sursum Corda! BBS=Huntsville AL=bbs.sursum-corda.com (1:396/45)