Thousands fill out synod survey

Around 10,000 Catholics in England and Wales have so far taken part in the Vatican survey on marriage and the family, writes Christopher Lamb.

The questionnaire – which asks about issues such as same-sex marriage, contraception and the divorced and remarried – was sent to local Churches in preparation for next year’s synod on family life.

The Bishops of England and Wales put a copy of the survey online and this closed to submissions last Saturday. However, at least six dioceses are still receiving “pro-forma” written responses and the total number filling out the survey is set to rise. These dioceses include Westminster, Lancaster, Leeds, Menevia, Shrewsbury and Plymouth.

The deadline for Westminster, Leeds, Plymouth and Menevia is today while Shrewsbury will receive responses up until 13 December and Lancaster until 14 December. Individual Catholics are also able to submit their views directly to the Synod of Bishops’ secretariat in Rome.
The Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales will be making a submission to Rome by the end of January 2014 while each diocese has been asked to collate its response by 20 December.

The survey asks what kinds of questions divorced and remarried couples ask about the sacraments and whether a simplification of the annulment process could help in ­“solving the problems of the persons involved”.

It also quizzes local Churches on what ­pastoral attention can be given to people who are in same-sex partnerships and what can be done to help the adopted children of such unions to be formed in the faith.