Voice of the Family

A LAY INITIATIVE FORMED TO DEFEND

CATHOLIC TEACHING ON THE FAMILY

Cardinal Burke’s strong call to Pope to break Synod silence welcomed by Voice of the Family

14 October 2014

ROME, 14 October 2014: A growing coalition of pro-family organisations has welcomed Cardinal Raymond Burke’s strong call to Pope Francis to break his silence on Catholic teaching on the family during the Extraordinary Synod in Rome.

Cardinal Burke issued the call in an interview with Catholic World Report. The cardinal said that a statement from Pope Francis “is long overdue”. (See Notes for Editors below)

“Cardinal Burke’s strong call to Pope Francis to break silence on Catholic teaching is welcome”, said John Smeaton, co-founder of Voice of the Family https://voiceofthefamily.com from its operational base in Rome during the Synod.

“Catholic teaching on human sexuality and the family has been dramatically and disastrously undermined by the Vatican’s mid-way report on the Synod. Catholic parents worldwide will be feeling bewildered and betrayed”, he added.

“Indeed, in view of the scandalous worldwide impact of this Synod on Catholic families, why has it not been brought to an immediate end and the organizers dismissed?” asked Mr Smeaton.

“Voice of the Family has been approached at our headquarters by various participants in the Synod, including Synod Fathers and lay participants. They are telling us that entirely misleading reports of the Synod’s proceedings are being published by the Vatican organizers. They say it’s unjust and that something is wrong.”

Synod participants are particularly angry about Archbishop Bruno Forte’s comment about homosexuals’ right to civil unions and about the implication in the mid-term report, or relatio, that birth control is up to the conscience of individual Catholics. Archbishop Forte is the Synod’s Special Secretary.

See Voice of the Family’s press release yesterday, “Pro-family Catholics reject Synod mid-way report, calling it ‘a betrayal’“

Notes for Editors:

From Catholic World Report, “Cardinal Burke: Synod’s mid-term report “lacks a solid foundation in the Sacred Scriptures and the Magisterium”“, 14 October 2014:

CWR: How important is it, do you think, that Pope Francis make a statement soon in order to address the growing sense—among many in the media and in the pews—that the Church is on the cusp of changing her teaching on various essential points regarding marriage, “remarriage,” reception of Communion, and even the place of “unions” among homosexuals?

Cardinal Burke: In my judgment, such a statement is long overdue. The debate on these questions has been going forward now for almost nine months, especially in the secular media but also through the speeches and interviews of Cardinal Walter Kasper and others who support his position.

The faithful and their good shepherds are looking to the Vicar of Christ for the confirmation of the Catholic faith and practice regarding marriage which is the first cell of the life of the Church.

About Voice of the Family:

Voice of the Family can be contacted by email to enquiry@voiceofthefamily.info or by telephone on +39 33 833 09443 (Italian mobile) or +44 (0)20 7820 3148 (UK landline)

Follow Voice of the Family via:

Voice of the Family is an international lay coalition of major pro-life and pro-family organizations that has formed to offer expertise and resources to leaders of the church, the media, NGOs, and governments before, during, and after the Catholic Church’s Synod on the Family. The Synod will be held from October 5 to 19 in Rome.

Voice of the Family consists of 18 member organizations from nine nations on five continents. Members include:

The following truths are at the heart of Voice of the Family’s work:

  • Sacramental marriage, binding parents together in an indissoluble union, is the greatest protector of children both born and unborn.
  • The artificial separation of the unitive and procreative dimensions of the sexual act is a major catalyst of the culture of death.
  • Parents are the primary educators of their children and it is through the education and formation of parents, and future parents, that the culture of life will be built.

Voice of the Family has published a position paper for the Synod which in summary says:

  • The Extraordinary Synod on the Family has been called to respond to the “widespread cultural, social and spiritual crisis”, which threatens the family today.
  • The Synod provides an important opportunity to take concrete steps to address this crisis and give renewed impetus to the “New Evangelisation”.
  • If the Synod is to be effective it is essential that the teaching of the Church is affirmed clearly and without ambiguity.
  • All proposals which result from the Synod must be founded on the truths of the natural moral law and Divine Revelation.

Our position paper can also be read in:

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H.E. Raymond Leo Cardinal BurkeSynod Fathers standing up for familiesSynods on the family

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