Church which flow from the indissolubility of marriage apply to the situation   
   of   
   people in irregular unions, including situations arising from the practice of   
   polygamy".   
    There are many references to this issue in St. John Paul II's encyclical   
   "Familiaris consortio".   
    The condition of homosexual persons is considered primarily from the   
   perspective of the family context. The English group C insists that "we address   
   this issue as pastors, seeking to understand the reality of people's lives   
   rather than issues in some more abstract sense". The group also asks that "the   
   final document include at an appropriate point a clear statement of Church   
   teaching that same-sex unions are in no way equivalent to marriage".   
    On the same issue, the English group A reiterates that "the Church as the   
   spouse of Christ patterns her behaviour after the Lord Jesus, Whose   
   all-embracing love is offered to every person without exception. Parents and   
   siblings of family members with homosexual tendencies are called to love and   
   accept these members of their family with an undivided and understanding   
   heart".   
    Some Fathers suggest that the issue be eliminated from the discussions in this   
   Synod as its importance would call for a specific Synod on the matter.   
    The theme of responsible parenthood has given rise to lively exchange, and is   
   of great current importance in relation to the dignity of the person and of   
   life. The working groups also considered mixed marriage, and called for greater   
   pastoral focus on the defence of women and children in precarious situations.   
    With regard to the Synod methodology, the French group represented by   
   Archbishop Paul-Andre Durocher writes, "like agronomists who talk about   
   different methods of irrigation, we have talked about the method of our Synod.   
   Is it well-suited to its purpose? We expend an enormous amount of energy, from   
   all points of view. People are exhausted from the work they are doing. Will the   
   result be worth the effort? Perhaps we could have identified some specific   
   themes to examine between the two Synods, so as to have more time to study.   
   Will   
   Pontifical Commissions be appointed to carry out the work we hope will be done?   
   ... We have enjoyed the greater amount of time given to us in small groups.   
   From   
   our exchanges, there strongly emerges the ministry of communion that is ours as   
   bishops".   
    "The theme of mercy has run throughout the Synod, challenging our pastoral   
   ministry", concludes the Italian group B. "We are aware that the mystery of the   
   Incarnation fully expresses the salvific will of God. This divine determination   
   has also been entrusted to our mission and to the sacramental means that find   
   their true hermeneutic in the sense of being an appeal to conversion, support,   
   a   
   medicine and an aid for our salvation".   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
    Declaration by the director of the Holy See Press Office   
    Vatican City, 21 October 2015 (VIS) - The director of the Holy See Press   
   Office, Fr. Federico Lombardi, S.J., issued the following statement this   
   morning:   
    "The circulation of entirely unfounded news regarding the health of the Holy   
   Father by an Italian newspaper is gravely irresponsible and unworthy of   
   attention. Furthermore, as is clearly evident, the Pope is carrying out his   
   very   
   intense activity in an totally normal way".   
    Subsequently, during a briefing on the Synod, he added the following further   
   information:   
    "I fully confirm my previous statement, having verified the facts with the   
   appropriate sources, including the Holy Father.   
    No Japanese doctor has visited the Pope in the Vatican and there have been no   
   examinations of the type indicated in the article. The competent offices have   
   confirmed that there have been no arrivals of external parties in the Vatican   
   by   
   helicopter; similarly, there were no arrivals of this type during the month of   
   January.   
    I am able to confirm that the Pope is in good health.   
    I reiterate that the publication of this false information is a grave act of   
   irresponsibility, absolutely inexcusable and unconscionable. It would be   
   equally   
   unjustifiable to continue to fuel similarly unfounded information. It is hoped,   
   therefore, that this matter be closed immediately".   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
    Audiences   
    Vatican City, 21 October 2015 (VIS) - Today, the Holy Father received in   
   audience Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, president of the Department for   
   External Ecclesiastical Relations of the Patriarchate of Moscow.   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
    Other Pontifical Acts   
    Vatican City, 21 October 2015 (VIS) - The Holy Father has appointed:   
    - Fr. Henrique Aparecido De Lima, C.SS.R., as bishop of Dourados (area 38,125,   
   population 535,000, Catholics 375,000, priests 59, permanent deacons 11,   
   religious 154), Brazil. The bishop-elect was born in Toledo, Brazil in 1964,   
   gave his religious vows in 1995 and was ordained a priest in 1999. He has   
   served   
   in a number of pastoral roles including parish vicar, pastor and administrator   
   of the diocese of Jardim, and deputy provincial of the Redemptorists. He is   
   currently superior of the Redemptorist Province of Campo Grande. He succeeds   
   Bishop Redovino Rizzardo, C.S., whose resignation from the pastoral care of the   
   same diocese upon reaching the age limit was accepted by the Holy Father.   
    - Fr. Jose Reginaldo Andrietta as bishop of Jales (area 12,788, population   
   400,000, Catholics 323,000, priests 36, religious 15), Brazil. The bishop-elect   
   was born in Pirassununga, Brazil in 1957 and ordained a priest in 1983. He   
   holds   
   a master's degree in catechesis from the Institut de Catechese et Pastorale   
   Lumen Vitae in Brussels, Belgium and a licentiate in pastoral theology from the   
   Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium. He has served in a number of pastoral,   
   academic and administrative roles in the diocese of Limeira, Brazil and in   
   Brussels, Belgium, including parish vicar, parish priest, professor of pastoral   
   theology and member of the presbyteral council. He is currently pastor of the   
   "Sao Judas Tadeu" parish in Americana. He succeeds Bishop Luiz Demetrio   
   Valentini, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese upon   
   reaching the age limit was accepted by the Holy Father.   
    - Msgr. Paulo Bosi Dal'Bo as bishop of Sao Mateus (area 15,496, population   
   469,000, Catholics 335,000, priests 46, religious 49), Brazil. The bishop-elect   
   was born in Colatina, Brazil in 1962 and was ordained a priest in 2000. He   
   holds   
   a degree in accounting sciences and master's degrees in social communications   
   and psychology of education. He has served in a number of roles in the diocese   
   of Colatina, including director of the "Nossa Senhora Mae dos Pobres" house of   
   formation, parish vicar and parish administrator, pastor, rector of the   
   diocesan   
   seminary and president of the Organisation of Seminaries and Philosophical and   
   Theological Institutes in Brazil. He is currently vicar general of the diocese   
   and parish priest.   
      
   ___________________________________________________________   
      
   For more information and to search for documents refer to the site:   
   www.visnews.org and www.vatican.va   
      
   Copyright (VIS):  the news contained in the services of the Vatican   
   Information Service may be reproduced wholly or partially by quoting   
   the source:  V. I. S. - Vatican Information Service.   
   http://www.vatican.va/news_services/press/vis/vis_en.html   
      
   --- MPost/386 v1.21   
    * Origin: Sursum Corda! BBS=Huntsville AL=bbs.sursum-corda.com (1:396/45)