Synod on Synodality Issues October 4-29, 2023
Hierarchical Church...not a Democratic One!
IT IS HOW JESUS BUILT HIS CHURCH...
1. Blessing of same-sex unions:
Blessing of these unions will be considered as analogous to the Sacrament of Matrimony by those looking to receive them.
Basically, allowance of this issue is providing homosexual couples with a way to be “married” in the Church...despite those who proclaim differently...and which means *celebrating the sacraments like a validly (in the Catholic Church) married heterosexual couple...
*N.B. The Sacrament of Reconciliation with Our Lord must always be pre-eminent in keeping our moral lives pure and allowing us to receive the Holy Eucharist at Sunday Mass
That cannot happen!
Marriage is only between a natural man and a natural woman as God ordained it from the Beginning! Also, it is also for the gift of bringing of children into the world since they have become ONE FLESH...this is impossible for same-sex couples and therefore, cannot be valid as a Sacramental marriage in the Catholic Church. (Same-sex union blessings would help this issue to remain open until a potential future Pope could possibly allow Homosexual marriages despite Catholic Church and Biblical teaching on morality)
“Furthermore, since blessings on persons are in relationship with the sacraments, the blessing of homosexual unions cannot be considered licit. This is because they would constitute a certain imitation or analogue of the nuptial blessing[7] invoked on the man and woman united in the sacrament of Matrimony, while in fact “there are absolutely no grounds for considering homosexual unions to be in any way similar or even remotely analogous to God’s plan for marriage and family”[8]... the Church does not have, and cannot have, the power to bless unions of persons of the same sex in the sense intended above.”
“There are two reasons, I suggest, for this liberal focus on homosexuality. For one, we feel a natural human sympathy for Catholics who, perhaps through no fault of their own, have a fixed homosexual orientation, yet are told by their religion – our religion – that they must live without sexual affection and companionship. For another, since Catholicism has always regarded homosexuality as a particularly extreme sexual sin – a sin that is not merely an offense against God but an offense against our animal nature itself – once you give the green light to homosexuality you will also have to give it to other sexual sins, e.g., contraception and other “sins” that liberals do not disapprove of...
...Once you give your approval to the blessing of homosexual unions, you will next, at least if you are logical (which humans sometimes are), have to allow priests to bless premarital sexual unions and adulterous unions.”
Biblical and CCC references:
Genesis 2:24-25
1 Corinthians 7:1-5
Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) 2331-2336; 2357-2363
2. Ordination of Women:
It cannot be accomplished because Christ did not ordain women, but only the 12 original Apostles (men) to continue His Church after his Death, Resurrection and Ascension.
Jesus choosing 12 men as His Apostles:
Jesus prayed all through the night before choosing His 12 Apostles. He chose men only...Now Jesus, who was truly Fully Divine and Fully Human, loved all people and truly respected all people. He had an incredible respect and inclusivity for women at a time in history, especially in this particular culture, where women and children were subservient to men.
CHRIST CHANGED ALL THAT!
But this is Jesus praying...JESUS PRAYING...before choosing who would continue in His Stead to spread the message of the Gospel as He built His Church on them as well as the Law & the Prophets of the Old Testament. So, it is impossible to have women in the Presbyterate or in the Diaconate as these Ministers were originally chosen by Jesus as men and with the Church promulgating this same message throughout the centuries. In fact, He could have chosen six men and six women or even twelve women, probably starting with His own Mother!
We as Christians, especially as Catholics, are part of the Body of Christ, the Bride of Christ, and all are given wonderful roles by God to support it and help it grow until Jesus returns in His PAROUSIA...HIS SECOND COMING...and women played a prominent role in helping Jesus and His Apostles to spread the Gospel Message.
Let us work together in the grace given to the Church as brothers and sisters in the Lord...not worrying who is governing and who isn’t...but giving back to God what He has given us...the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of His Son in the way we work and cooperate with each other and with the governance and Magisterium of the Church...through Peter and the Apostles...now through the Current Pope and the Bishops...men and women and children working together in unity, humility, and LOVE...until our Savior returns.
a. Women Deacons: Please see above...
i. Deaconesses in the Early Church were NOT ordained for that role, unlike the First Seven Deacons starting with Stephen, by Peter and the Apostles...
“With regard to the ordination of women to the diaconate, it should be noted that two important indications emerge from what has been said up to this point:
“1. The deaconesses mentioned in the tradition of the ancient Church — as evidenced by the rite of institution and the functions they exercised — were not purely and simply equivalent to the deacons;
“2. The unity of the sacrament of Holy Orders, in the clear distinction between the ministries of the bishop and the priests on the one hand and the diaconal ministry on the other, is strongly underlined by ecclesial tradition, especially in the teaching of the Magisterium.
“In the light of these elements which have been set out in the present historico-theological research document, it pertains to the ministry of discernment which the Lord established in his Church to pronounce authoritatively on this question.”
Biblical and CCC references:
Acts 6:1-6
Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) 1575-1577
3. Divorce & Remarried Catholics receiving the Holy Eucharist:
God is against Divorce!
However, there are many situations where it is impossible for the marriage to continue due to security and safety scenarios, and also for marriages that weren’t considered valid in the beginning of the Matrimonial union. The Catholic Church has a Tribunal that hears these cases and rules to ensure that these types of cases are examined in every way and to ensure that the marriage was invalid for some reason. Also, they definitely look to the safety and security of the spouses, especially women and children, to ensure they are capable of continuing their lives without fear or danger.
That said, unless these marriages (those that have taken place in the Catholic Church) are ruled invalid, the marriage continues as valid in the eyes of the Church. It would be a great sacrifice to know this and not partake of Holy Communion going forward.The Lord would definitely HONOR THIS GREAT SACRIFICE!!!
The Tribunal truly examines each case thoroughly to make sure all parties concerned are heard, and that all can move forward in their lives.
Biblical and CCC references:
Matthew 5:31-32; 19:3-9
Catechism of the Catholic Church: 1644-1651
4. Priestly Celibacy:
Priestly Celibacy is a gift from Jesus to His Church. Jesus knew the demands of Ministry during His three years before His Death. The Church, the Latin Rite Church, continues in the way of the Savior by having ordained men practice celibacy, so to concentrate their whole lives on the spread of the Gospel.
Biblical and CCC references:
1 Corinthians 7:32-35
Catechism of the Catholic Church: 1579, 1599
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