Pope Francis Publishes ‘The Joy of Love,’ a Statement on Family
In the new exhortation, the pontiff tells leaders of the church to be nurturing pastors rather than rigid enforcers of church doctrine.
Pope Francis waves to a crowd in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican. (Andrew Medichini / AP)
In a new exhortation on family, Pope Francis “urges church leaders to serve as nurturing pastors, not as rigid enforcers of doctrine,” The New York Times reports.
The Times chose a few excerpts from the statement, titled “Amoris Laetitia,” or “The Joy of Love.” Here are three of them:
An appeal for greater empathy:
“When faced with difficult situations and wounded families, it is always necessary to recall this general principle: ‘Pastors must know that, for the sake of truth, they are obliged to exercise careful discernment of situations’ (Familiaris Consortio, 84). …. while clearly stating the Church’s teaching, pastors are to avoid judgements that do not take into account the complexity of various situations, and they are to be attentive, by necessity, to how people experience and endure distress because of their condition.”
Broader training for priests:
“Seminarians should receive a more extensive interdisciplinary, and not merely doctrinal, formation in the areas of engagement and marriage. Their training does not always allow them to explore their own psychological and affective background and experiences. Some come from troubled families, with absent parents and a lack of emotional stability. There is a need to ensure that the formation process can enable them to attain the maturity and psychological balance needed for their future ministry.”
Denounces antigay violence:
“Every person, regardless of sexual orientation, ought to be respected in his or her dignity and treated with consideration, while ‘every sign of unjust discrimination’ is to be carefully avoided, particularly any form of aggression and violence. Such families should be given respectful pastoral guidance, so that those who manifest a homosexual orientation can receive the assistance they need to understand and fully carry out God’s will in their lives.”
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—Posted by Alexander Reed Kelly.
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