ROME
National Catholic Reporter
Joshua J. McElwee | Oct. 19, 2015
ROME
The discussions at the ongoing Synod of Bishops have shown a clear difference in mindsets between the prelates considering issues of family life and ordinary Catholics looking to the gathering in hopes for changes in church pastoral practice, one of the non-voting participants in the event has said.
U.S. Sacred Heart of Mary Sr. Maureen Kelleher — who is taking part in the Oct. 4-25 synod as one of 32 women serving in non-voting roles alongside the 270 prelate-members — said there is a clear cultural divide between bishops’ and laypersons’ points of view.
“There’s such a culture here and a common background,” said Kelleher, speaking in an NCR interview. “These men have all pretty much studied together through formation and onward — [and] are very steeped in the magisterium and the canons and the different papal documents that have come out and have formed them.”
“And they’re very, very — well, they’re in pain I think to deal with the pastoral situation and reaching for particularly the remarried after divorce in a way that would be accompanying them … and yet being faithful to their understanding of Jesus’ sentences on divorce and its consequences,” she continued.
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