The Synod of Bishops on the Family is now underway at the Vatican. Pope Francis, the bishops, clergy and laypeople will meet for two weeks (Oct. 5 - Oct. 19) to discuss pastoral challenges to the family. Keep up with America's daily coverage and analysis here.
October 2015
The Urgency of Pastoral Outreach: How do we make the goals of the Synod of the Family a reality? Helen Alvaré (7/21)
The "instrumentum laboris," or working document for the coming October Synod on the Family, is a rather overwhelming wish list of pastoral outreach initiatives that the universal church hopes the local church will undertake more fully and better than before. Read more.
Love Me Tender: The synod calls us to consider the vocation of the Christian family, Valerie Schultz (7/20)
We have an openhearted role model in Pope Francis, who embraces the world in all her tawdriness and tells her, sincerely and tenderly, that he loves her and God loves her. He reminds us that we all are capable of, and called to, great joy. Love first; ask questions later, he seems to say, which the document calls the pope’s “pastoral creativity.” Read more.
Vatican News:
The Promise of Synod 2014 (10/21)
Five Things the Synod Just Did (10/18)
Pope Given Standing Ovation at End of Synod (10/18)
Synod on Family Closes No Doors; Absolute Majority Is With Pope Francis (10/18)
A Message of Encouragement from the Synod Fathers (10/18)
Waiting for The Vote on The Synod's Final Report (10/17)
A Team of Eleven from All Continents Work on Synod's Final Report (10/16)
The Synod Is On The Home Stretch (10/15)
Pushback at The Synod on The Family (10/14)
A New Wind Is Blowing at The Synod on The Family (10/13)
'A Stunning Change' on Stance Towards Gay, Divorced Catholics (10/13)
Synod Mid-term Report Highlights 'Graduality' (10/13)
Pope Adds Six Synod Fathers to Write Final Report (10/11)
Three Ways to Streamline Annulment Process (10/9)
Synod Hears Calls for Church to Change its Language (10/7)
Pope Gives Bishops a Synod 'Bill of Rights' (10/6)
Pope Tells Synod Fathers: Let Us Not Thwart "God's Dream" For His People (10/5)
Francis: Synod Fathers Must 'Listen'; Do 'Whatever' Jesus Tells Them (10/4)
Cardinal Baldisseri: Bishops At The Synod Should Speak Freely, Clearly And With Courage (10/3)
Cardinal Kasper: Some Fear a Domino Effect at the Synod on the Family (9/29)
Fourteen Married Couples Among 253 Participants at Synod on the Family
Talking About Marriage and Family
Family Portraits: Discussion starters for the upcoming synod, Nathan Schneider, Ginny and Bob Kane, Valerie Schultz, Rebecca Peters, Maurice Timothy Reidy, Kevin Clarke, Rev. Alexander M. Santora
The Nuclear Option: A call to refocus on the love between a man and a woman, Cornelius F. Murphy Jr.
Revisiting Remarriage, Mary Ann Walsh, R.S.M.
Raise Up the Roof: Families with disabilities belong at the synod too, Maria Cataldo-Cunniff
Encountering Christ: One couple’s journey in faith, Martha and Rubén Luján
Video
Cardinal Wuerl on family synod -- and what happens next
Archbishop Kurtz on synod and next steps
Pope Francis beatifies Paul VI
Archbishop Shevchuk: The family's global crisis
Synod auditors: 'Green' family planning
Archbishop Durocher: Church teaching is pastoral care
Cardinal Napier: Communion and polygamy
American Catholics on family synod
Cardinal Nichols on desire and fidelity
Cardinal: Is teaching on sexuality changing?
Cardinal Pell: Pope welcomes frank dialogue
Cardinal Tagle: Poor families need synod's help
Archbishop Kurtz on synod expectations
Pope opens synod with vigil, Mass
Cardinal Kasper on sex and second unions
Cardinal Burke: Stop Communion debate now
Podcast
Father Thomas Rosica of Salt & Light Television talks about the upcoming synod on the family on "America This Week" on SiriusXM.
Background
FAQs: the Extraordinary Synod of Bishops
The Family, In Context: Reflections on the working document for the synod on the family
