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This week, HLI's Dr. Joseph Meaney, Stephen Phelan and I met with Church officials and with pro-life leaders in Rome to discuss a range of concerns, primarily focusing on life and family.
Renewing friendships
with other leaders - and resolve in fighting for the great gifts of life
and family - has a special urgency these days. Many have concerns about
the direction the Extraordinary Synod on the Family took last Fall, and
the confusion that was so widespread. Although there have been signs
from Rome in the direction of greater clarity, many remain concerned by a
phenomenon that could be called "the spirit of the Synod," evidenced by
a readiness by many inside and outside the Church to proceed with
problematic proposals regarding Holy Communion for Catholics who,
without having a first marriage annulled by the Church, are living in
invalid civil unions; and giving some sort of blessing to homosexual
unions.
As many have argued
forcefully, charitably and eloquently, these kinds of changes cannot
receive any sort of Magisterial status in Church teaching, yet their
having been raised and considered in the Synod has been taken by some as
license to proceed as if they already had some kind of approval. We
have seen the destruction caused by the "spirit of Vatican II", which
ignores what the Second Vatican Council documents actually said and
proceeds as if the Truth is democratically decided, and there was some
sort of approval granted for any change whatsoever. The clearest
precedent for this confusion is certainly the chaos following Humanae vitae,
which strongly affirmed unchangeable Catholic doctrine on human life
and sexuality. There had been such an expectation of change created
leading up to the publication of the document that, when it was issued
by Blessed Pope Paul VI, a revolt ensued, leaving a trail of destruction
both inside and outside the Church.
Yet, God's Grace
remains available to all who turn to Him, and His hand is evident as we
proceed through the present confusion. At the conclusion of the
Extraordinary Synod last Fall was the beatification of Blessed Paul VI,
which to those who see spiritually was a welcome, providential sign
that the innovators would not have the final say on how our beloved
Church defines the sacrament of marriage. Cardinals Burke, Mueller,
Napier and several others made powerful interventions affirming the
truth about marriage and the Eucharist - and their number has only
increased since the last synod meeting.
Further, we have to
remember that "the spirit" is not the Spirit, the third Person of the
Holy Trinity who continues to guide His Church today. The former
"spirit" is a mere will to power, an adolescent demand that one's own
preferences be blessed in the name of a false compassion and mercy
divorced from Truth.
The need for prayer
and fasting for the Holy Father and the Church is extremely urgent - as
it always has been! Please also join us in prayers that the fruits of
the various meetings over this last week will lead to effective action
that will support the truth about life and family all over the world.
We've seen all too well what happens when the "spirit" of the age holds
sway, leading many away from Christ. We've also seen the joy that
follows from Remaining in the Truth of Christ, toward which we direct
all of our efforts.
Thank you again for
supporting our mission and for walking with us on this journey. And stay
tuned for more on this crucial struggle.
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Sincerely yours in Christ,
Father Shenan J. Boquet
President, Human Life International
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