Vatican City, Oct 19, 2014 / 05:01 pm (CNA/EWTN News).-
While some countries face family issues such as divorce and polygamy, the synod’s Indian participants have voiced concern for inter religious marriages, which pose pastoral concerns across Asia.
“We have got this whole thing of mixed marriages, there are many marriages in India which are between (a) Catholic and somebody who is not baptized, a Hindu, a Muslim, or a Buddhist, and that is what specifically came out of India,” Cardinal Oswald Gracias of Bombay told CNA Oct. 10.
While marriage between a Catholic and an unbaptized person would normally be invalid, the local ordinary can dispense from this impediment, and thus allow such a marriage to be validly contracted (canon 1086).
Cardinal Gracias, who is part of Pope Francis' 'council of cardinals', explained that when faced with the difficult situations interreligious marriages can present, it’s always necessary to have a “positive pastoral approach” to the couples and families involved.
The cardinal was accompanied to the synod by Fr. Cajetan Menezes, who is director of the Bombay archdiocese's Snehalaya Family Service Center.
Fr. Menezes has served as an auditor for the synod, and spoke to CNA Oct. 15 saying the topic of interreligious marriages was one of the three points he brought up when he addressed the synod fathers.
With the number of interreligious marriages on the rise across Asia, the priest said that it is an important issue, and one with which the Church needs to have a “very specific pastoral care.”
“We need to reach out to them rather than look at them as problems. (They are) an opportunity to evangelize, and we need to take them on board,” he said, explaining that interfaith couples are often “ostracized by their own families because they are going against family tradition.”
“That creates more problems for them in their marriage, and that is not conducive for their marriage to grow and do well,” he observed.
Although other countries might not share the pastoral difficulties caused by interreligious marriages, Fr. Menezes observed that “this is a big issue in Asia because we are a minority,” and cited India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Japan as being countries with a high percentage of interreligious couples.
Thus there is a need to specifically address the issue and to give interreligious families more help and support, particularly in light of the challenges the couples face due to the differing traditions of their families, the priest explained.
Fr. Menezes said that the synod’s emphasis on welcoming and inviting those who are far from the Church or who find themselves in situations that could be problematic is also a way of embracing those who have been ostracized because of interreligious challenges.
“I think it’s the first time I noticed (them) speaking a different (kind of) language, and I think that’s a very positive influence of Pope Francis, (who) is reaching out, welcoming, and also looking at not only those who are at the center, but at the periphery,” the priest continued.
By reaching out to the marginalized, the synod fathers are making great progress in their attempt to “get everybody on board,” including members of the gay community and those who are divorced and remarried.
Cardinal Gracias, who has taken part in numerous synods before this, praised the free spirit in which discussion has taken place.
Even though each synod is free in its own way, the cardinal explained that when talking about the family “there is nothing which is taboo, nothing that you can't speak about, no one is frightened to say ‘ok, this is a problem, we have got to face it.’”
To have differing opinions is important and essential, he said, and helps participants to reach more concrete, effective solutions.
“We have another synod next year which will be bigger (and) with more participation, and probably we will come to clearer conclusions at that particular moment of time,” the cardinal noted, but for now he is happy that “it is working well.”
Returning to the situation in India, Cardinal Gracias said that while Indians have traditionally maintained strong family ties, this is being influenced negatively by outside sources, including the film industry.
“I think that people are beginning to feel that this is not the best thing and we have got to try to reinforce the family,” he said, noting that although a zero percent breakdown rate is impossible, “it should not be 50 percent.”
However, he explained that much of a lasting family dynamic will depend on the preparation of the couple before marriage, as well as the process of accompanying them after the sacrament is contracted.
Forwarded by Aleyamma Lukose thru Jos Joseph Kallidikkil (USA)
While some countries face family issues such as divorce and polygamy, the synod’s Indian participants have voiced concern for inter religious marriages, which pose pastoral concerns across Asia.
“We have got this whole thing of mixed marriages, there are many marriages in India which are between (a) Catholic and somebody who is not baptized, a Hindu, a Muslim, or a Buddhist, and that is what specifically came out of India,” Cardinal Oswald Gracias of Bombay told CNA Oct. 10.While marriage between a Catholic and an unbaptized person would normally be invalid, the local ordinary can dispense from this impediment, and thus allow such a marriage to be validly contracted (canon 1086).
Cardinal Gracias, who is part of Pope Francis' 'council of cardinals', explained that when faced with the difficult situations interreligious marriages can present, it’s always necessary to have a “positive pastoral approach” to the couples and families involved.
The cardinal was accompanied to the synod by Fr. Cajetan Menezes, who is director of the Bombay archdiocese's Snehalaya Family Service Center.
Fr. Menezes has served as an auditor for the synod, and spoke to CNA Oct. 15 saying the topic of interreligious marriages was one of the three points he brought up when he addressed the synod fathers.
With the number of interreligious marriages on the rise across Asia, the priest said that it is an important issue, and one with which the Church needs to have a “very specific pastoral care.”
“We need to reach out to them rather than look at them as problems. (They are) an opportunity to evangelize, and we need to take them on board,” he said, explaining that interfaith couples are often “ostracized by their own families because they are going against family tradition.”
“That creates more problems for them in their marriage, and that is not conducive for their marriage to grow and do well,” he observed.
Although other countries might not share the pastoral difficulties caused by interreligious marriages, Fr. Menezes observed that “this is a big issue in Asia because we are a minority,” and cited India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Japan as being countries with a high percentage of interreligious couples.
Thus there is a need to specifically address the issue and to give interreligious families more help and support, particularly in light of the challenges the couples face due to the differing traditions of their families, the priest explained.
Fr. Menezes said that the synod’s emphasis on welcoming and inviting those who are far from the Church or who find themselves in situations that could be problematic is also a way of embracing those who have been ostracized because of interreligious challenges.
“I think it’s the first time I noticed (them) speaking a different (kind of) language, and I think that’s a very positive influence of Pope Francis, (who) is reaching out, welcoming, and also looking at not only those who are at the center, but at the periphery,” the priest continued.
By reaching out to the marginalized, the synod fathers are making great progress in their attempt to “get everybody on board,” including members of the gay community and those who are divorced and remarried.
Cardinal Gracias, who has taken part in numerous synods before this, praised the free spirit in which discussion has taken place.
Even though each synod is free in its own way, the cardinal explained that when talking about the family “there is nothing which is taboo, nothing that you can't speak about, no one is frightened to say ‘ok, this is a problem, we have got to face it.’”
To have differing opinions is important and essential, he said, and helps participants to reach more concrete, effective solutions.
“We have another synod next year which will be bigger (and) with more participation, and probably we will come to clearer conclusions at that particular moment of time,” the cardinal noted, but for now he is happy that “it is working well.”
Returning to the situation in India, Cardinal Gracias said that while Indians have traditionally maintained strong family ties, this is being influenced negatively by outside sources, including the film industry.
“I think that people are beginning to feel that this is not the best thing and we have got to try to reinforce the family,” he said, noting that although a zero percent breakdown rate is impossible, “it should not be 50 percent.”
However, he explained that much of a lasting family dynamic will depend on the preparation of the couple before marriage, as well as the process of accompanying them after the sacrament is contracted.
Forwarded by Aleyamma Lukose thru Jos Joseph Kallidikkil (USA)
രണ്ടു ദിവസം മുമ്പ് സമാപിച്ച സിനഡിനെപ്പറ്റിയോ പോപ്പിന്റെ തുറന്ന സമീപനത്തെപ്പറ്റിയോ അനുകൂലമനോഭാവം ഇല്ലാത്ത നമ്മുടെ പ്രതിനിധികളിൽ ഒരാളെങ്കിലും എന്തെങ്കിലും പറഞ്ഞല്ലോ എന്നത് അദ്ഭുതം തന്നെ. ഏതായാലും കാ. ഗ്രേഷ്യസ് പറഞ്ഞതിൽ കാര്യമില്ലാതില്ല. ഇന്ത്യയിൽ, പ്രത്യേകിച്ച് കേരളത്തിൽ, സഭ അംഗീകരിക്കാൻ മടിക്കുന്ന ഒരു വിഷയമാണ് മിശ്രവിവാഹങ്ങൾ. ഇന്ത്യക്ക് വെളിയിൽ, വിവാഹപങ്കാളിയെ തിരഞ്ഞെടുക്കുന്നതിൽ മതമോ മതത്തിന്റെ വിഭാഗമോ കാര്യമായ ഒരു വിഷയമാകാറില്ല. സഭ അക്കാര്യത്തിൽ ഇടപെടാറുമില്ല. ഇവിടെ അങ്ങനെയല്ലല്ലോ. ഇനവും ജാതിയും മതവും മാറിയാൽ, തമ്മിൽ കലർന്നാൽ, എല്ലാം കുഴഞ്ഞു എന്ന മട്ടാണ് സഭക്ക്. മതേതരത്വത്തെപ്പറ്റിയും ജാതിചിന്തയുടെ അനാശാസ്യതകളെക്കുറിച്ചും നിരന്തരം വായാടിക്കൊണ്ടിരിക്കുകയും ചെയ്യും. ഈ വിഷയത്തെക്കുറിച്ച് സമഗ്രമായ ഒരു പഠനം നടത്താതെ ചുമ്മാ ചെന്ന് സിനഡിൽ കുത്തിയിരുന്നിട്ട്, അവസാനം ഓ, മറന്നുപോയി, ഞങ്ങള്ക്ക് ഇങ്ങനെയൊരു പ്രശനമുണ്ട് എന്ന് ഒരഭിപ്രായം വെളിയിലിറങ്ങി പറഞ്ഞിട്ട് എന്ത് നേട്ടം? അതും എന്തെങ്കിലും ഉച്ചരിച്ചത് കാർദിനാളല്ല, അദ്ദേഹത്തെ സഹായിക്കാനുണ്ടായിരുന്ന ഫാ. കജെത്താൻ മെനെസിസ് ആണ്.
ReplyDeleteഫാ. മെനെസിസ് മിശ്രവിവാഹിതർക്കുള്ള pastoral care എന്ന് പറയുമ്പോഴും അദ്ദേഹത്തിൻറെ മനസ്സിലിരുപ്പ് വ്യക്തമാണ്. അതായത് അത്തരം അവസരങ്ങൾ മതം മാറ്റത്തിനും നമ്മുടെ എണ്ണം കൂട്ടാനും ഉതകണം ('an opportunity to evangelize, and we need to take them on board') എന്നാണത്. മറിച്ച് മാനുഷികമായ ഒരു സമീപനത്തിലൂടെ ജാതി, മത ചിന്തകൾ കുറച്ചുകൊണ്ടുവരുവാനുള്ള ഒരവസരമായി മിശ്രവിവാഹത്തെ സഭ കാണുന്നില്ല എന്നത് പരിതാപകരമാണ്. എത്ര സിനഡിൽ സംബന്ധിചാലും നമ്മുടെ ആൾകാരുടെ സങ്കുചിതത്വം മാറുകയില്ലെന്നതിന് നല്ല ഉദാഹരണമാണിത്.
“get everybody on board” എന്ന പോപ്പിന്റെ വാക്യത്തെ ഉദ്ധരിക്കുമ്പോഴും ഫാ. മെനെസിസ് അതിനെ മനസ്സിലാക്കുന്നത് ക്രിസ്ത്യാനികളുടെ ഇന്ത്യയിലെ ന്യൂനപക്ഷാവസ്ഥയെക്കുറിച്ചാണ് - അതായത് എത്രയും കൂടുതൽ ആള്ക്കാരെ on board കൊണ്ടുവന്നാൽ, മാമോദീസ മുക്കി ഇങ്ങോട്ട് ചേർത്താൽ, നമ്മുടെ ഇപ്പോഴത്തെ അവസ്ഥക്ക് വലിയ മാറ്റം വരും പോലും! ഗ്രേഷ്യസിന്റെ വക്താവ് പറയുന്നത് ആയിരിക്കുമല്ലോ അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെയും ഉള്ളിലിരുപ്പ്. നമ്മുടെ ബാക്കി തിരുമേനിമാർക്ക് ഒന്നും പറയാനേ ഇല്ല. ഒരടിപൊളി വിദേശയാത്ര എന്നതിൽ കവിഞ്ഞ് ഒരർഥവും ഈ സിനഡിന് ഇവരാരെങ്കിലും കല്പിച്ചതായി തോന്നുന്നില്ല. നമ്മൾ ഒരു കാലത്തും നന്നാവില്ലെന്നു ചുരുക്കം.
ഈ റിപ്പോര്ട്ട് അയച്ചുതന്ന ശ്രീമതി ഏലിയാമ്മ ലൂക്കൊസിന് നന്ദി.
It certainly is a good news for us. Now we need to make a concerted effort to bring the Knanaya Insistence on endogamy and oztracizstion of iour own children and sibilings who can not find a partner from the same community. I am certain the Synod if appraised of this issue will be in virtual shock and shame for allowing the diocese of Kottayam to expel a Catholic couple and their children from the parish and deny them sacraments including burial on the false pretext of blood purity. We need the support of all in the Catholic Reform Movement in this struggle.
ReplyDeleteJose