In the end, exclusion wins

The synod held in the Vaticanshows a Catholic Church that is not yet ready to directly address the challenges faced by many faithful families that do not fit into a traditional mold.

The initial document, made public last Monday, which proposed a compassionate opening toward homosexuals, common law couples and those divorced and remarried in civil ceremoniessparked a light of hope for millions of Catholics who feel excluded by the church.

It also spurred a torrent of criticism among clergy of the doctrinaire sector of the church, who object to the changes promoted by Pope Francis.

The synod’s theme was the family. The final version of the document, approved by the vast majority of the 191 prelatesloftily evadesthe most controversial issues proposed in the initial draft. The amendments approved in the final document, in their majority, insisted on strengthening the Catholic family and its values, setting aside what could be called “irregular unions.”

Regarding the matters of gay children, gay parents, divorced couples and those living out of wedlock, the only reference to them is as “family situations which are complex and problematic.”

What a disappointing definition of the way many Catholic faithful live. What an indignation that there is no room for a message that acknowledges the positive human values in people, beyond what may be their status as sinners.

This was an opportunity to reaffirm Pope Francis’s change of tone to build a more inclusive church. But the bishops buried their heads in the ground like ostriches and allowed fears and prejudices to prevail.

Thus, loved ones in family circles were reduced to “problems,” without mention or humanity.

The initial proposal did not change doctrine or make legal what is now considered sin. It only recognized real situations, and proposed to talk about them. The synod revealed thatthese issues can still not even be raised without accusations and finger-pointing. Compassion was left for another day