Catholics urged to give honest views on family

Dioceses across the island of Ireland have begun to ask parishes to provide feedback on the Lineamenta discussion document from last year’s extraordinary synod on the family, in order to collate a report from the Irish Church in advance of the second session of the bishops’ synod in October.

Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin, who will represent Ireland at the synod, has invited priests and parishioners to take part in a diocesan wide reflection and discussion process to take place in parishes during the months of February and March.

In the Diocese of Clogher, Bishop Liam McDaid has appointed eight people to act as a steering committee and condensed the diocese’s 14 pastoral areas into seven to speed up the discussion process. He said the “first level of consultation will be to converse with the priests within these groupings” and this will be followed by a “more comprehensive phase involving a small number of priests and religious and a much bigger number of lay people from all walks and corners of life”. 

Reflections

In Armagh, Archbishop Eamon Martin has asked the Office of Pastoral Renewal and Family Ministry (OPRFM) to co-ordinate reflections on the Lineamenta within the archdiocese, by facilitating gatherings in the pastoral areas for parish pastoral councils and other interested parties.

In the Diocese of Meath, Fr William Coleman, PP Rochfortbridge has agreed to receive and collate the comments and suggestions received from parishes, religious communities and other groups.

Fr Jim Butler has been appointed the collator for responses received from priests, religious and pastoral councils in the Diocese of Ferns.

In the Diocese of Elphin, the document has been sent to all parish councils and religious communities with a request to respond, while spokespeople for the Archdiocese of Tuam and Diocese of Down & Connor told The Irish Catholic they are sending out a request for submissions this week.

Feedback from these diocesan consultations are expected to be received in March and will be gathered into a consolidated report of the Irish Church, to be produced in time to prepare the formal working document of the synod.