Learning to be Quick to Listen

When it comes to human sexuality, one of the predominant themes being discussed by participants at the Extraordinary Synod on the Family pertains to the certainty that truth and mercy cannot be separated. This is according to Fr. Stephen Fawcett of the Archdiocese of Birmingham, who is one of 27 volunteers serving at the Synod on the Family. Fr. Fawcett, whose role throughout the Synod has been in part to act as one of two secretaries to one of the small groups over this past week, told CNA that “one big strand that’s coming out of the groups echoes Benedict XVI’s reminder of the link between love and truth.” “God shows his mercy to all of us… to grow into the people we should be,” he said. “It’s not (that) some people need mercy, and some people don’t. All of us need the truth… and all of us need the grace to journey in that truth.” He explained that there has been neither a sense of toning “down the truth and raise up the sort of focus on mercy,” nor of a toning “down the merc...

An incorrect translation into English of the original midterm report of the Synod on the Family may have spurred controversial interpretations of the document itself. The document's original version was written in Italian, which Pope Francis directed to be used as the official language of the synod. In prior synods the official language had been Latin, esteemed for its precision and lack of ambiguity. The point of controversy occurs at paragraph 50 of the relatio. The Italian original, after praising the gifts and talents homosexuals may give to the Christian community, asked: “le nostre comunità sono in grado di esserlo accettando e valutando il loro orientamento sessuale, senza compromettere la dottrina cattolica su famiglia e matrimonio?” In the English translation provided by the Vatican, this is rendered as: “Are our communities capable of providing that, accepting and valuing their sexual orientation, without compromising Catholic doctrine on the family and matrimony?” Th...

They came from different states. They spanned a wide range of ages. Their backgrounds were varied. But all who gathered for the Society of St. Vincent de Paul's 2014 national assembly in Atlanta shared one common mission: to learn how to better serve those who most need their help. More than 750 Vincentians -- the largest turnout in more than 13 years -- attended the annual assembly coming from as far away as Puerto Rico. The Sept. 24-27 conference featured workshops, committee meetings and national and local keynote speakers. Bill Bolling, executive director of the Atlanta Community Food Bank, gave the keynote speech during lunch Sept. 27. Since Bolling founded the food bank in 1979, the organization has grown to distribute more than 35 million pounds of food and grocery products each year through a network of 600 local and regional partner nonprofit organizations that feed the hungry across the state. Bolling spoke of the importance of the table, pointing out that e...

In his homily for the Feast of Holy Guardian Angels, Pope Francis told those gathered for daily Mass to be like children who pay attention to their “traveling companion.” The doctrine of the angels, the Holy Father stressed, is not imaginary, but “reality.” Citing what Jesus has said, “I send an angel before you to protect you, to accompany you along the path, so that you do not make mistakes!” According to the tradition of the Church, each of us has a guardian angel who protects us and helps make us aware of things, the Pope said at the Santa Marta residence Oct. 2. Often times, we have the feeling that “I should do this, this is not right, be careful.” This, he said, “is the voice of” our guardian angel: our “traveling companion.” Our guardian angel will “carry us” throughout our entire life. For this reason, he said we should “listen to his voice, don't rebel against it.” We all have this tendency toward rebellion and the will for independence, the Holy Father continued. “It...