It is now widely recognized throughout the Catholic Church, especially in western countries, that there is a severe contraction in availability of and access to the celebration of the Eucharist, “the Source and Summit of the Christian life” (Lumen Gentium, 11). You may know of particular circumstances where the Eucharist is not regularly available, and where particular solutions are evident if the bishops would take advantage of Francis’s willingness to act. Perhaps your solution is optional celibacy for priests, ordaining women, supporting Basic Christian Communities, addressing an unjust caste system, or any number of other situations. We welcome your suggestions here. Our intent is to have this discussion reach Pope Francis and the Bishops who will be attending the Synod.
It is now widely recognized throughout the Catholic Church, especially in western countries, that there is a severe contraction in availability of and access to the celebration of the Eucharist, “the Source and Summit of the Christian life” (Lumen Gentium, 11). You may know of particular circumstances where the Eucharist is not regularly available, and where particular solutions are evident if the bishops would take advantage of Francis’s willingness to act. Perhaps your solution is optional celibacy for priests, ordaining women, supporting Basic Christian Communities, addressing an unjust caste system, or any number of other situations. We welcome your suggestions here. Our intent is to have this discussion reach Pope Francis and the Bishops who will be attending the Synod.
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When our Church is asked to pray for vocations, I strongly pray that priests will be allowed to be married, and women can become priests. That is how the Catholic Church can continue.
I casi in cui viene negata l’Eucarestia dal sacerdote è per i divorziati, o per altre ragioni che loro conoscono. In linea di massima, nella mia esperienza, c’è molta apertura in merito da parte dei sacerdoti.
VMR Chianese
After his resurrection, Jesus had lit a charcoal fire on the beach and called out to his seven gloomy fisherman apostles in the boat who had fished all night and caught nothing, to cast their net to starboard, breaking the rules of seamanship. (Jesus sometimes made a point of breaking rules.) They immediately netted a large catch. While his friends dragged the net ashore Peter, typically driven more by love than logic, jumped half naked into the water, his eyes filled with tears as he remembered his own cowardly betrayal of his loving Master. The other six knew, in defiance of all human logic, that this “was the Lord”, but where afraid to admit it. As they barbecued some of the fish, between mouthfuls Jesus asked his first pope three times if he loved him. Increasingly desperate, Peter told him he did. Priests preaching on this gospel explain, lamely, that Jesus was making Peter un-say his thrice-spoken denial. I think this is an unconscious attempt not to hear our Lord’s true warning, “Feed my sheep.” I think Jesus broken-heartedly saw how Peter’s successors through the ages would fail to hear his command. Pope Francis could be the first of those successors to put an end to this shameful neglect and feed the sheep, the sacramentally starved millions around the world denied this essential food for the sake of man-made rules – be they priestly celibacy, male-only priesthood, or worst of all wielding the power of blackmail over those who break church rules. Francis, end this starvation of the flock entrusted to you!
Welcome all who have been called by God, Regardless of gender, orientation, family status.