The People Speak Out

Local voices connecting globally

This is important: to get to know people, listen, expand the circle of ideas. The world is crisscrossed by roads that come closer together and move apart, but the important thing is that they lead towards the Good.  (Pope Francis)

Canon Law 212 calls upon the laity to speak up:

2 - The Christian faithful are free to make known to the pastors of the Church their needs, especially spiritual ones, and their desires.

§3. - According to the knowledge, competence, and prestige which they possess, they have the right and even at times the duty to manifest to the sacred pastors their opinion on matters which pertain to the good of the Church and to make their opinion known to the rest of the Christian faithful, without prejudice to the integrity of faith and morals, with reverence toward their pastors, and attentive to common advantage and the dignity of persons.

I have been married to a non-catholic for 55 years. I had three children in two and a half years. The stress of this nearly destroyed my marriage. We went on to have a planned fourth child seven years later. I knew personally a couple who were invited to be part of the consultation on HV and their witness and wisdom was disregarded. This ban has resulted in none of my wonderful children practising their faith or bringing up their children in the faith either. I have done my best to serve the church all my life, but this teaching has been a heavy burden{jcomments on}