Father Adamus draws attention to 'Not easy but full of meaning?' (Letters 26 September), a deeply felt reflection on a genuine and, as he says, widespread consultation.
The bishops quote the National Pastoral Congress (paragraph 178) and go on to say (paragraph 185): ‘we see a huge need for better communication and deeper understanding of Church teaching in the area of marriage and family life, especially as it applies to real family experience. Families seem to be able to endure hardship if they can make sense of it in spiritual/religious terms and if they can see it as just. The alternative scenario, where meaning and justice are experienced as lacking, is a recipe for estrangement. The vision of the family as domestic church and an appreciation of family and marital spirituality seem to be two areas in particular that are crying out for more theological reflection by the whole community. The teaching authority of the church would be wise to approach the topic of marriage and family life in a spirit of humility, making concerted efforts to draw on the diversity of lived experience of those at the grass roots.’
Surely the approach for the bishops to take for the forthcoming synod.
Harold Mozley, York
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