Can we hope this to be the beginning of a dialogue?
Delhi Eparch Responds
Dear Mr Kottoor,
Thank you, Thank you, a million thanks Dear Archbishop for finding us (CCV) worthy to receive a reply, while all others refused it to us. We are not in a Blame-game at all, but in the process of opening a vertical dialogue in the Church in Kerala and the Church in India, to let Church citizens know that their Pastors are alo discussing the Family Synod issues.
Dear Dr James,
I have taken due note of your write-up.The bishops assembled in Synod did discuss the topic of the upcoming Family Synod.
Previously the Doctrinal Commission of the Synod had collected data on the matter from all dioceses. Thereafter it had conducted a seminar also. Based on all these a position paper is being prepared. Against this backdrop why to accuse that the Synod did nothing on this issue?
May I share with you something that I thought of writing to you from the first moment when I heard your proposal of " survey" . Is survey the only means of collecting data? I had for example invited the reactions from my faithful thru a pastoral letter published in the diocesan bulletin. I had published the lineamenta also in the website.
Just to say that something is being done, though not in terms of your proposal.God bless you
Just to say that something is being done, though not in terms of your proposal.God bless you
+ Kuriakose, Sent from my iPad
SOS to Kerala Bishops to Repair
the CRUMBLING ST.DAMIAN'S CHURCH
Thank you, Thank you, a million thanks Dear Archbishop for finding us (CCV) worthy to receive a reply, while all others refused it to us. We are not in a Blame-game at all, but in the process of opening a vertical dialogue in the Church in Kerala and the Church in India, to let Church citizens know that their Pastors are alo discussing the Family Synod issues.
Actually Pope Francis had wanted Pastors to discuss challenges and threats to families publicly with the faithful, not among the bishops themselves privately.
CCV's duty is to give wings to those discussions. We are doing that by instantly publishing it in Church Citizens Voice to help your message reach all the four corners of the world. Please visit: www.almayasabdam.com to see it. james kottoor, editor, CCV
CCV's duty is to give wings to those discussions. We are doing that by instantly publishing it in Church Citizens Voice to help your message reach all the four corners of the world. Please visit: www.almayasabdam.com to see it. james kottoor, editor, CCV
A response from Rite Issue
Dear Dr James,
This response from bishop Bharanikulangara is to be taken with a large pinch of salt.
The Holy Father wanted to know what the laity truly think about these matters, which affect them so deeply, and not what the bishops think of or evaluate the problems.
While admittedly, a survey is not "the only means of collecting data", the alternative method of "inviting the reactions from my faithful thru a pastoral letter published in the diocesan bulletin" is the best way to ensure that no responses will come in. After all, how many of the ordinary people feel confident enough to write a considered response to such a formal invitation; and how many of those who are able to write have the time in their busy lives to do so? Obviously, the Church would like to go through the motions of obtaining opinions while ensuring the opposite.
The true situation is that the Prelates find it extremely difficult to take the laity as equals in the Church. The last time also, I saw a fatuous response from the SM Church, to the effect that the Bishops are so closely in touch with the people that they know the people's views!
This could be claimed by all Churches everywhere. It is precisely because the Holy Father does not believe this to be the case, that he asked the Bishops specifically to find out the opinions of the laity.
No, I'm afraid that once again, our "Shepherds" in India have worked assiduously to ensure that the true feelings of the laity are not conveyed to the Holy Father.
Kurien, Right Issue, riteissuencr
Zacharias Nedunkanal
Yes Bishop, we have to accuse you of not doing anything concrete in the matter. You say "Thereafter it had conducted a seminar also. Based on all these a position paper is being prepared." What seminar? Based on what? Who took part in it? And a position paper is being prepared on it at this last hour? We con't believe you!
None of us are asking you bishops to conduct a survey according to any plan we put forward but to go by the Pope's instructions. And he meant that the issues facing Christian families should be found out from local situations and they should be publicly discussed a
nd solutions sought after. That affirmatively means full participation of the laity. Any group of bishops or an ad hoc committee preparing a paper privately among themselves is against the will of the Pope. Any such report submitted at the Synod in Rome would bring nothing. It would surely be taken for a farce.
We would humbly request you to send us a copy of a questionnaire, if any, that you used for the study. If you don't have any such questionnaire, it is better that you make no claims of having done a study at all. Come on, let's face it.
Zacharias Nedunkanal, asso. editor, CCV
None of us are asking you bishops to conduct a survey according to any plan we put forward but to go by the Pope's instructions. And he meant that the issues facing Christian families should be found out from local situations and they should be publicly discussed a
nd solutions sought after. That affirmatively means full participation of the laity. Any group of bishops or an ad hoc committee preparing a paper privately among themselves is against the will of the Pope. Any such report submitted at the Synod in Rome would bring nothing. It would surely be taken for a farce. We would humbly request you to send us a copy of a questionnaire, if any, that you used for the study. If you don't have any such questionnaire, it is better that you make no claims of having done a study at all. Come on, let's face it.
Zacharias Nedunkanal, asso. editor, CCV
This is an opportunity to make an extraordinary difference in the Catholic Church. The Bishop’s have every authority to request each parish priest to appoint a panel of team from each parish to discuss and present a paper to the Bishop. If the bishop did not do this they lost an extraordinary opportunity to make a difference in the Catholic Church.
The issues daunting the families cannot be put under the carpet and pretend that it is not the churches issues. Take this on boldly, talk about it, address it, and resolve it. There are many scandals in our catholic church and all of them must be taken up and be analyzed and prioritized for our catholic church to sustain. If the church cannot provide to be the moral conscience for people then it needs better leaders who have such abilities. If the church leaders do not address the issues affecting the families it will eventually consume the entire church and will become a laughing subject for all. So my hope is that the bishops do what Pope Francis requested and that is “discuss challenges and threats to families publicly with the faithful and not just among the bishops themselves privately”.