I read with interest the news that Cardinal Nichols rebuked the 500 priests who signed an open letter asking the Church not to change Church teaching around the family (The Tablet, 28 March) and have subsequently read the letter concerned. It is to their credit that these priests have signed their names and have publicly spoken rather than dwell, with views unchanged, in the shadows. But I feel what is not to their credit is the unrelenting and reactionary views they hold so dear. Their unwavering stance is I feel an opportunity missed, for reaching out to people who are in compromised and difficult situations, which in synonymous with our society today.
I feel so strongly that Christ in his mercy and compassion would embrace and invite everyone to his table without compunction. The letter states that participants should reinforce the Church's unchanging moral teaching, so that confusion may be removed and faith confirmed. Personally my faith would be confirmed if a kinder way forward could be established to embrace all Catholics whatever the circumstances they find themselves in. Appearing intractable is not an attractive trait and one which should be avoided, as it reinforces a certain 'mind set' which seems to plague our Church.
Let the Holy Spirit guide the participants and not Priests who have issues and see what inspiring and transformative outcomes can manifest themselves, and then perhaps these undoubtedly sincere priests could walk five hundred miles in other peoples' shoes.
Judith A Daniels, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk
It seems that 7-8 per cent of the Catholic Priests in England Wales and Scotland may have have responded positively to the letter aimed at the Synod on Marriage and Family Life and promulgated by 12 priests who would probably describes themselves as archly conservative in all things, moral, doctrinal and liturgical.
Hopefully the remaining 92 per cent of us have retained an open-minded approach, accept there are problems in need of radical solutions, and are prepared, in union with Pope Francis, to think outside of various constricting and thoroughly outdated boxes.
Edward Butler, Derrydruel Upper, County Donegal
The Synod on the Family failed to address individuals with special needs and their families. The Instrumentum Laboris (working document) which gave direction to the Synod in 2014 had no reference to individuals or families with special needs. While there were multiple paragraphs given over to gay persons and same-sex unions, there was nothing that even acknowledged the reality of disabilities in marriage and family life.
The report which followed the Synod made some reference to families in special circumstances, but the topic was not addressed in any significant way at the Synod. In all the questionnaires asking for direction for the Synod this autumn, again there is almost nothing that asks about individuals and families who have special needs. Yet, we know that these families face great challenges economically, socially, and spiritually. Many of these Catholic families have left the Church because of its lack of sensitivity, its failure to make programs and buildings accessible, and a failure to respond to the unique issues these families confront on a daily basis.
One in six Catholic families has a person(s) with a disability. Children with disabilities are physically and sexually abused at twice the rate of their non-disabled peers. The numbers of people with Alzheimers, dementia, and other cognitive impairments is growing at a staggering rate. Families with a person who is mentally ill far out number families with have someone who is gay, lesbian,or transgender. Many of the marriages for parents who have special needs children have crumbled. They often re-marry only to be told by the Church, "no Communion." At the same time, many of these marriages and families are examples of courageous faith, a lived-out hope, and an enduring love. And from their own Church, the response is silence.
Reverend Joseph A Mulcrone, Chicago, Illinois
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