Pope Francis’s encyclical not just about Communion and the divorced
OTTAWA (CCN)
Pope Francis’s document Amoris Laetitia on family love concerns paths to spiritual growth not doctrinal change says Cardinal Gerald Cyprien Lacroix.
The Archbishop of Quebec and Primate of Canada said he is disappointed so much media focus on the post-synodal Apostolic Exhortation has involved Communion for the divorced and remarried and homosexuality. “I am sad because we’re missing the most beautiful aspects of this exhortation if we just focus on that,” he said.
Instead, the document aims to help couples and families find true fulfillment and freedom in the Gospel and the Church’s rich teaching on marriage and family.
The Church has a long history and tradition, wonderful doctrine, but today “what we really need to do is find a way to reach our brothers and sisters and the young couples and families to they will discover this is a way of living-that love and marriage is a way of living that is a way to happiness,” he said. “It’s a way to fulfillment to really live an extraordinary life.”
“How are we going to convey this to our brothers and sisters?” he asked. “We have this treasure which is our doctrine, and our experience. The Magisterium– it’s so many beautiful pages on what God wants a family to be, what God is calling couples to live.”
“We’re not going to dilute that or diminish it but we have to find a way to interest and help our brothers and sisters to grow in this,” he said. “How are we going to do this? By accompanying to help them discern to what is fragile in their lives, what’s difficult, what is not up to par with what the Gospel is asking, that will invite them to grow.”
“It is not just hitting you on head with doctrine, and saying you come back when you are perfect,” he said.
“We have nothing to impose, we have something wonderful to propose,” he said. “In fact it’s not something, it’s Someone. It’s Jesus Christ and He is the Way, the Truth and the Life.”
“Bringing people to a personal relationship with Him will open them to this grace and this abundant and new life,” he said. “That’s what we need to do. Then we’ll be able to share with them all the doctrinal, bio-ethical and moral issues. That’s a consequence. You don’t start by that.”
“Evangelization starts by kerygma– bringing people to meet and to welcome Jesus Christ in their lives, to make that decision to follow Him,” he said. “Then the rest comes; then you learn what you have to do to put your life in order. That comes out very clearly in this Apostolic Exhortation.”
“There’s room in our Church for every family,” he said. “We’ll take you and we’ll walk with you.”
“That’s where we’re heading: to holiness, faithfulness and obedience to God’s Word,” he said. “That’s what we’re pointing to, but we’ll take the time to get there. You want to make it? We’ll help you. That is the key to understanding this.”
The cardinal said he has seen much evidence during his life as a priest this approach works. “If they want to grow, the Lord will help them but we have to be on their side,” he said.
“I’ve seen people start off in something that was not a project in line with what God wanted, but with time, tender loving care, with help, and welcoming them into community they discovered the fullness of Sacrament of marriage, the fullness of Christian life,” he said. “It’s not only true for the people we accompany, it’s true for me!”
“I didn’t come to live the Gospel right away in the fullness of what it calls us to be and I’m still struggling with it,” he said. “Thank God for God’s mercy and forgiveness and patience with me and with all of us.”
“So why should we be so hard on other people?” he asked, noting the Year of Mercy is helping people understand this.
