The Archbishop of Philadelphia closes the doors of his diocese to divorced, remarried and gay people
Article by Terence published on the Queer Church News & Opinion website on 7 July 2016, freely translated by Silvia Lanzi
Francis DeBernardo, executive director of the Catholic association New Ways Ministry, in response to the new pastoral directives issued by the Archbishop of Philadelphia (USA) Charles Chaput, released the following statement on July 6:
With a provision that seems diametrically opposed to Pope Francis' recent apostolic exhortation Amoris Laetitia on marriage and family life, the Archbishop of Philadelphia Charles Chaput has instructed the pastoral workers of his archdiocese not to distribute communion to divorced/remarried or cohabiting couples and not to allow people in homosexual relationships to occupy positions of command or pastoral roles in parish life. Chaput's instructions are contained in a document entitled “Pastoral Guidelines for Implementing Amoris Laetitia”, following the exhortation that Pope Francis issued in April.
Denying the sacraments and placing restrictions on involvement in parish life are not effective pastoral strategies if the Catholic Church wants to be followed. Pope Francis' emphasis should avoid these types of measures and instead offer an open and friendly hand to all, especially those whose lives do not always conform to the official teachings of the Church. Rejections and restrictions will only have the effect that many people will leave the Church, thus contributing to its death rather than its construction. Chaput offered a losing pastoral strategy.
While these instructions will anger and distress many Catholics, whose hearts are larger in accepting people regardless of their state in life, this is not a strategy that will stand the test of time. It's just another attempt to cling to a model of Church that has long been obsolete.
Original text: Archbishop Chaput's Pastoral Restrictions Are a Losing Strategy
