Martin seeks new language for church teaching on sexuality

THE FUTURE leader of the Church in Ireland has said he does not believe change in the Church’s fundamental teachings on marriage and human sexuality are likely to follow the extraordinary synod on the family in October.

However, Archbishop Eamon Martin told The Tablet that he believes the Church may need to look for a new language to communicate its “complex and very deep concepts” on marriage and human sexuality.

He said the working document for the synod had indicated a “certain deficit of understanding among people and even priests about the roots of church teaching”, specifically in relation to natural law.

The Coadjutor Archbishop of Armagh said he did detect “a pastoral openness” to looking at the Church’s strictness on access to sacraments.

He suggested the synod on the family needed to consider whether sacraments could be considered “as moments for healing rather than necessarily some kind of prize you attain because you are a perfect person”.