Next week, the eyes of the world will be fixed on the Vatican as the Synod of bishops begins.
The synod will focus on 'The Pastoral challenges of the Family in the Context of the Evangelizationâ?.
It comes at a crucial time in today's history where the sacrament of marriage, marital fidelity and family life are in crisis.
This is the thought of Cardinal Velasio De Paolis, the former president of the Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See. He is also a member of the Apostolic Signature, the Church's highest court.
CARD. VELASIO DE PAOLIS
'It is true that marriage and the family is the nucleus of society. If marriage is in crisis, then society is in crisis. And if society is in crisis, the family is in crisis. This is not a crisis of the marginalized. The anthropological vision is in crisis. Today, we no longer know who is man.â?
The Cardinal also stressed that while the question of those who are divorced and remarried is important, it is not the only important issue that affects families today.
CARD. VELASIO DE PAOLIS
'There are so many other problems that are probably even more serious. There are many who do not marry anymore and just live together. And this is a big problem! Not just in our western, European world. We know that this is a very big problem in Latin America.â?
Cardinal De Paolis said that neither the Synod nor the Pope will set out to change established Church doctrine on marriage, but to find new ways to address issues for the good of the family.
CARD. VALESIO DE PAOLIS
'These are not things that can be changed capriciously. Not even the Pope can change the doctrine of the Church. It is about understanding if a certain doctrine of the Church is either intangible or if its a praxis of the Church than can be modified.â?
This is just one of the topics of a Synod called to study the comprehensive problems families are facing today in all areas of the world.
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