Abp. Kurtz on the Synod: Renewal of Culture Must Come through Families
By Jim Graves
Archbishop Joseph Kurtz of Louisville, Kentucky, president of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, will be one of the American bishops participating in the Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on the Family October 4-25. The synod, the theme of which is “the vocation and mission of the family in the Church and in the contemporary world,” follows on the heels of the controversial 2014 Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, and has already been the subject of much debate and speculation worldwide. Archbishop Kurtz recently spoke with CWR about the synod and what he hopes it will accomplish in the life of the Church. CWR: You’re first on the list of the American bishop-participants at the synod. How would you explain the role of a synod to the ordinary layman? Archbishop Joseph Kurtz: A synod is a gathering of bishops who come together to advise and assist our Holy Father in the governance of the Church. This synod [in October] deals with the family, a topic of great importance to the Church. CWR: What do you hope will be discussed? Archbishop Kurtz: There are three areas I believe we should address. First, we need to find new and attractive ways to touch the hearts of people with the beauty of the teachings of Jesus. This task presents itself in every age, because while cultures change, the teachings of Jesus do not. We need to find new and convincing language to express the beauty of the teachings of Jesus on marriage in an attractive way. Next, we need to inspire the young and old, especially those with children, to be renewed in their witness to one another and to the world. We have many wonderful and heroic families who live in a sacrificial way who offer good examples for all of us. We must remember that people watch good families and learn from them. Finally, we have to find new ways to accompany those who struggle in family life. This could include single parents who want more for their children. I believe that the Church is at her best when we reach out to such people and walk with them. At the beginning of last year’s synod, Pope Francis told those of us participating to be frank in speaking our minds, to listen to one another and to trust in the Holy Spirit. I believe this year he’ll tell us to do the same. CWR: What is your understanding of the theme of the synod: “the vocation and mission of the family in the Church and in the contemporary world”? Archbishop Kurtz: It is the calling of married people to develop families. These families enrich the Church and society. It is my hope that these families will be active agents, witnessing Christ. The sacrificial love that they demonstrate will lead to a renewal of our culture. CWR: How do you think this year’s synod will be different from last year’s? Archbishop Kurtz: Last year’s final document outlined pastoral challenges to the family. This year, we will concentrate on pastoral solutions that can be taken to meet these challenges. One such solution, for example, is the changes in the canon law procedures in regards to annulments recently announced by Pope Francis. They removed barriers in attaining annulments for people with legitimate grounds for obtaining them. CWR: Do you see any significance as to the timing of this announcement, a month before the Synod? Archbishop Kurtz: Yes. I welcome the timing. CWR: How will these annulment changes affect the Archdiocese of Louisville? Archbishop Kurtz: We have a very good tribunal, so I’m not concerned about our annulment cases not getting a second review. And it will cut down on the time a couple has to wait. Also, regarding the Holy Father’s request that couples not be charged for annulments, in Louisville we did not charge. People could make a voluntary donation if they wished, but we do not accept this donation any longer. CWR: Do you think an easier annulment process is fair to the children who will have to grow up in a home without their biological father and mother? Archbishop Kurtz: Pastorally, when a couple struggling in their marriage comes to the Church, the first step we always take is to seek a revitalization. We want to save the marriage for the sake of the couple, the children, the Church, and society. That’s why I’m a big fan of the Retrouvaille program, which helps couples heal and renew their marriages. Sadly, many couples do not turn to us until the marriage has already ended in a civil divorce. So, we walk with them where they’re at when they come to us. It is our desire, however, that they turn to the Church earlier so that the integrity of the marriage bond can be maintained. CWR: What was your reaction to the US Supreme Court’s declaring same-sex marriage the law of the land this year, and do you believe it will have any impact on the synod? Archbishop Kurtz: This is an issue I’ve spoken on publicly. I begin by saying that the Church holds every individual with deep respect. But, this decision on the nature of marriage was a tragic error. It’s an error not because we don’t believe people are equal, but because we disagree on the nature of marriage. We believe marriage is the union of one man and one woman open to life. The Supreme Court decision was a narrow one, and not the correct one. We live in a land of laws, however, so we need to continue in a civil way to persuade people on what ought to be the law of the land, and leave room for people of faith to live vibrantly according to their convictions. We want to accompany all people, including those with same-sex attractions. The Church does not condone this lifestyle, but walks with people, true to our teaching and invites them to conversion to Christ. CWR: What are your thoughts on Cardinal Walter Kasper’s proposal to allow divorced and remarried Catholics, after a period of penance, to receive Holy Communion? Archbishop Kurtz: I’m going to listen carefully to the proposals that are presented at the synod. Last year, I did not favor this direction. I thought the better approach was to streamline the annulment process, while not changing our Church teaching. CWR: 461 priests in Britain signed a letter encouraging synod participants to issue a “clear and firm proclamation” upholding Church teaching on marriage. A similar letter was signed by hundreds of American priests. Should faithful Catholics be concerned that the synod could issue a document compromising Church teaching? Archbishop Kurtz: I believe that any recommendations made will be true to Church teaching, as it has been conveyed through the centuries. At last year’s synod, three relatios were released, one in the beginning, one in the middle and one at the end. The one at the end was the one we voted on. I voted in favor of it. The middle one that caused the controversy was an interim draft, and the impression was given that it was a final draft. That was a mistake. CWR: What are your thoughts on the media coverage you’ve seen leading up to the synod? Archbishop Kurtz: We want the media to be our friends. We need the media to convey the message of the synod to the people. I’d ask those following the media to make time to hear the full message, rather than just sound bites. People need to be discriminating about what they read; to be smart consumers of information. Beware of those who would present the pastoral plan merely in political terms.
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