Several bishops at the September 8-11 assembly baulked at the proposal.

But Cardinal Reinhard Marx of Munich and Freising, who is currently a member of Pope Francis' circle of top advisors (Council of Cardinals) and past president of the German Bishops' Conference (2014-2020), actually defended the motion.

The cardinal, who turns 69 next week and will soon mark the 15th anniversary of his appointment to Bavaria's most important diocese, said it was all part of the paradigm shift that German Catholics are pushing for.

Marx, who was one of the main initiators of the Synodal Path, told La Croix's Delphine Nerbollier that a key aspect of the synodal process is "to ask questions, debate, and advance the discussion".

The text on sexual morality that was presented to the synodal assembly on September 8 failed to obtain the two-thirds majority required of the bishops present.

Among other things, it proposes that homosexual couples and remarried divorcees be afforded the "blessing of God expressly promised by the Church".

How do you explain that the required two-thirds majority was not reached?

Cardinal Reinhard Marx: This text is controversial and requires further discussion within the universal Church, but it is important and we cannot put the subject aside.

It consists of a paradigm change and perspective toward sexual morality and social ethics.

It is a process. We are going to talk about it again within the episcopal conference.

I would like to point out that this text was accepted by more than 80% of the members of the synodal assembly and by 62% of the bishops.

In your opinion, what role did the press release issued by the Holy See Press Office in July play in the rejection of this text?

That's a question for each bishop to answer. I think that each one of them already had his position prior to its publication.

Some expressed themselves, others less so. During this synodal assembly, some felt a little more pressure to express themselves.

The point is that we need to be more open with each other and justify our positions. We must not only represent an opinion, but defend it.

I don't think (the Vatican) statement played a role because it didn't bring anything new to the table.

None of us wants to replace the pope, to override canon law or to rewrite the Church's dogma. What we want is to ask questions, debate, and advance the discussion. We are part of the universal Church.

We have the mission to bring to it all the elements that seem important to us.

Is it difficult for the bishops to face so many theologians and lay people in this synodal process?

In Germany we have a long tradition of having lay men and women and professors of theology, especially in the synodal committees of the dioceses.

So most bishops are used to having lay people contradict them.

But of course, not everyone likes this. Some bishops have not yet integrated the change of perspective that synodality requires. This too is a process.

How can the German Synodal Path contribute to the World Synod?

I have the impression that some in Rome and elsewhere are watching the German synodal path with some apprehension.

For example, we have received letters from bishops in Poland, the United States and the Nordic Bishops' Conference.

It is therefore important that we present texts that are theologically very well argued and worked out.

In this fourth session of the synodal journey, we adopted texts on the possibility of creating a synodal council in Germany and on the place of women in the Church, with the support of two-thirds of the bishops.

These are absolutely priority themes for the universal Church.

These texts will certainly soon be translated into several languages and may have an influence on the discussion elsewhere in the world.

• Delphine Nerbollier writes occasionally for La-Croix International.
• First published in La-Croix International. Republished with permission.

Cardinal Walter Brandmüller said this in an interview with LifesiteNews last month.

The cardinal discussed the issue of Communion for those whose marriages are not recognised by the Church.

He was asked if the Church could deal with marriage in a pastoral manner that is different from its teaching, and if the Church could change its teaching without falling into heresy.

The cardinal replied that: "It is evident that the pastoral practice of the Church cannot stand in opposition to the binding doctrine nor simply ignore it."

He drew an analogy with an architect designing a bridge.

"However, if he does not pay attention to the laws of structural engineering, he risks the collapse of his construction.

"In the same manner, every pastoral practice has to follow the Word of God if it does not want to fail.

"A change of the teaching, of the dogma, is unthinkable.

"Who nevertheless consciously does it, or insistently demands it, is a heretic - even if he wears the Roman Purple."

Cardinal Brandmüller, 86, is president emeritus of the Pontifical Commission for Historical Sciences.

He was one of the five cardinals who contributed to the book Remaining in the Truth of Christ, which criticised Cardinal Walter Kasper's proposal to allow Communion to civilly remarried Catholics under certain circumstances.

Cardinal Brandmüller said the Church could readmit to Communion those in unions it does not recognise as valid, if the couple lives together as brother and sister.

"This solution is especially worth considering when the care for children disallows a separation," he said.

"The decision for such a path would be a convincing expression of the penance for the previous and protracted act of adultery."

In an answer to another question, the cardinal said there is "an indissoluble inner contradiction" for one who wants to unite himself with Christ in Communion, while consciously disregarding the Lord's commandment.

Sources

• LifeSiteNews
• Vatican Press Office
• Image: Catholic News Agency

In an interview with Argentine newspaper La Nacion, Francis indicated that he wanted clergy to be less judgmental and more understanding of those living outside Catholic norms.

He told the newspaper: "The world has changed and the Church cannot withdraw into supposed interpretations of dogma.

"We have to approach these social difficulties, both new and old, by extending a hand to give comfort, not by stigmatising and criticising people."

His comments were published on the day he celebrated a Mass to open the two-week Synod of Bishops, which has as its theme "pastoral challenges of the family in the context of evangelisation".

At the synod, some prelates seemed to have picked up his point.

During the first days of discussions, concerns have been raised as to some of the language the Church uses to speak about those who don't live up to its teachings.

Some synod members referred to phrases like "living in sin", "contraceptive mentality" and "intrinsically disordered" as being unhelpful.

Vatican spokesman Fr Thomas Rosica summarised this, saying that labelling people does not help in bringing people to Christ.

Among the many themes that have emerged during the first days was that of "graduality", said English Cardinal Vincent Nichols to reporters.

This means that Catholics may sometimes grow toward adherence to, or understanding of, Church teaching throughout their lives.

Vatican spokesman Fr Federico Lombardi said "there are absolutely valid, important and even holy elements" in families that fall short of the Christian ideal of marriage in the Church.

Cardinal Nichols said he didn't hear any synod member speaking about changing doctrine, "but I heard a great desire to deepen our understanding of doctrine".

In the La Nacion interview, Francis dwelt on the question of young people's attitudes to marriage, such as seeing cohabitation as preferable.

He said the fact that young people not getting married is "the culture of the time".

He added: "What should the Church do? Expel them from their breast? Or approach them and try to bring them close and teach them the word of God? I am in favour of the latter position."

At the start of the first working session of the synod, Pope Francis told members to "speak boldly and listen with humility".

Sources

• The Tablet
• National Catholic Reporter
• ABC
• Image: BBC

Archbishop Leo Cushley of St Andrews and Edinburgh has ordered the Edinburgh Circle of the Newman Association to cancel an event at which Professor Tina Beattie was due to speak this month.

The archbishop was acting on instructions from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

In a July letter which was only revealed last week, he wrote: "Professor Beattie is known to have frequently called into question the Church's teaching.

"I would therefore ask you to cancel this event, as it may not proceed or be publicised on any Church property in this archdiocese."

The archbishop also rebuked the association for organising a talk by theologian Joe Fitzpatrick, who has written a book critiquing original sin and seeking to make Genesis compatible with evolution.

Archbishop Cushley said that dogmatic teaching can't be brought into question on Church property.

Professor Beattie, Professor of Catholic Studies at the University of Roehampton, was prevented from undertaking engagements in Catholic institutions in two countries in 2012.

She was told one cancellation was because she had been a signatory to a letter in The Times in London arguing that Catholics could support civil same-sex marriage in good conscience.

On September 2, Professor Beattie wrote to Archbishop Cushley expressing her concern at his July decision, but has yet to hear a reply.

"You say that I am ‘known to have frequently called into question the Church's teaching'. Known by whom, in what context and with reference to which of my published works?" she queried.

"Never in my published writings or talks have [I] questioned any of the doctrinal mysteries of the Catholic Faith.

"On the contrary, I have consistently argued in defence of even the most frequently challenged doctrines of the Church."

She wrote that she believes that Catholics could enter a "more reasoned and nuanced public dialogue" about same-sex marriage than the hierarchy allowed.

The Edinburgh association has been offered a meeting with diocesan officials including Msgr Patrick Burke, one the archdiocese's vicars-general and formerly of the CDF.

Sources

• The Tablet
• The Guardian
• National Catholic Reporter
• Image: Reform Magazine