ROME
National Catholic Reporter
Joshua J. McElwee | Oct. 23, 2015
ROME
One of the prelates responsible for drafting the final document from the ongoing Synod of Bishops has said he does not anticipate that it will propose changes in the Catholic church’s practices towards the divorced and remarried.
Indian Cardinal Oswald Gracias — one of ten prelates who co-drafted the document after three-weeks of intense deliberations among some 270 bishops at the Oct. 4-25 Synod — said in particular that one specific proposal that might have allowed the remarried to take Communion would likely not be mentioned.
That proposal would have suggested that the church could use what is called the “internal forum” to allow some remarried persons to take the Eucharist on a private, case-by-case basis after seeking guidance, advice, and then permission from priests or bishops. …
Gracias gave three examples of work bishops’ conferences could be entrusted to do, saying they could perhaps handle marriage tribunals, clergy sexual abuse cases currently referred to the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, and even help in the selection of bishops.
Regarding sexual abuse cases, the cardinal said: “I think [bishops’ conferences] should take more responsibility because that’s far too heavy to have one office in Rome handling all the cases in the world. It’s practically, logistically, impossible.”
“Bishops’ conferences could also, I think, in the future — I’m not saying they would decide — assist more, have a greater role in the choice of bishops,” said Gracias, who is also a member of the Council of Cardinals advising the pope on reforming the Vatican. “That’s a very crucial decision for every church and bishops’ conference.”
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