Church which flow from the indissolubility of marriage apply to the situation
of
people in irregular unions, including situations arising from the practice of
polygamy".
 There are many references to this issue in St. John Paul II's encyclical
"Familiaris consortio".
 The condition of homosexual persons is considered primarily from the
perspective of the family context. The English group C insists that "we address
this issue as pastors, seeking to understand the reality of people's lives
rather than issues in some more abstract sense". The group also asks that "the
final document include at an appropriate point a clear statement of Church
teaching that same-sex unions are in no way equivalent to marriage".
 On the same issue, the English group A reiterates that "the Church as the
spouse of Christ patterns her behaviour after the Lord Jesus, Whose
all-embracing love is offered to every person without exception. Parents and
siblings of family members with homosexual tendencies are called to love and
accept these members of their family with an undivided and understanding
heart".
 Some Fathers suggest that the issue be eliminated from the discussions in this
Synod as its importance would call for a specific Synod on the matter.
 The theme of responsible parenthood has given rise to lively exchange, and is
of great current importance in relation to the dignity of the person and of
life. The working groups also considered mixed marriage, and called for greater
pastoral focus on the defence of women and children in precarious situations.
 With regard to the Synod methodology, the French group represented by
Archbishop Paul-Andre Durocher writes, "like agronomists who talk about
different methods of irrigation, we have talked about the method of our Synod.
Is it well-suited to its purpose? We expend an enormous amount of energy, from
all points of view. People are exhausted from the work they are doing. Will the
result be worth the effort? Perhaps we could have identified some specific
themes to examine between the two Synods, so as to have more time to study.
Will
Pontifical Commissions be appointed to carry out the work we hope will be done?
... We have enjoyed the greater amount of time given to us in small groups.
From
our exchanges, there strongly emerges the ministry of communion that is ours as
bishops".
 "The theme of mercy has run throughout the Synod, challenging our pastoral
ministry", concludes the Italian group B. "We are aware that the mystery of the
Incarnation fully expresses the salvific will of God. This divine determination
has also been entrusted to our mission and to the sacramental means that find
their true hermeneutic in the sense of being an appeal to conversion, support,
a
medicine and an aid for our salvation".

___________________________________________________________

 Declaration by the director of the Holy See Press Office
 Vatican City, 21 October 2015 (VIS) - The director of the Holy See Press
Office, Fr. Federico Lombardi, S.J., issued the following statement this
morning:
 "The circulation of entirely unfounded news regarding the health of the Holy
Father by an Italian newspaper is gravely irresponsible and unworthy of
attention. Furthermore, as is clearly evident, the Pope is carrying out his
very
intense activity in an totally normal way".
 Subsequently, during a briefing on the Synod, he added the following further
information:
 "I fully confirm my previous statement, having verified the facts with the
appropriate sources, including the Holy Father.
 No Japanese doctor has visited the Pope in the Vatican and there have been no
examinations of the type indicated in the article. The competent offices have
confirmed that there have been no arrivals of external parties in the Vatican
by
helicopter; similarly, there were no arrivals of this type during the month of
January.
 I am able to confirm that the Pope is in good health.
 I reiterate that the publication of this false information is a grave act of
irresponsibility, absolutely inexcusable and unconscionable. It would be
equally
unjustifiable to continue to fuel similarly unfounded information. It is hoped,
therefore, that this matter be closed immediately".

___________________________________________________________

 Audiences
 Vatican City, 21 October 2015 (VIS) - Today, the Holy Father received in
audience Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, president of the Department for
External Ecclesiastical Relations of the Patriarchate of Moscow.

___________________________________________________________

 Other Pontifical Acts
 Vatican City, 21 October 2015 (VIS) - The Holy Father has appointed:
 - Fr. Henrique Aparecido De Lima, C.SS.R., as bishop of Dourados (area 38,125,
population 535,000, Catholics 375,000, priests 59, permanent deacons 11,
religious 154), Brazil. The bishop-elect was born in Toledo, Brazil in 1964,
gave his religious vows in 1995 and was ordained a priest in 1999. He has
served
in a number of pastoral roles including parish vicar, pastor and administrator
of the diocese of Jardim, and deputy provincial of the Redemptorists. He is
currently superior of the Redemptorist Province of Campo Grande. He succeeds
Bishop Redovino Rizzardo, C.S., whose resignation from the pastoral care of the
same diocese upon reaching the age limit was accepted by the Holy Father.
 - Fr. Jose Reginaldo Andrietta as bishop of Jales (area 12,788, population
400,000, Catholics 323,000, priests 36, religious 15), Brazil. The bishop-elect
was born in Pirassununga, Brazil in 1957 and ordained a priest in 1983. He
holds
a master's degree in catechesis from the Institut de Catechese et Pastorale
Lumen Vitae in Brussels, Belgium and a licentiate in pastoral theology from the
Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium. He has served in a number of pastoral,
academic and administrative roles in the diocese of Limeira, Brazil and in
Brussels, Belgium, including parish vicar, parish priest, professor of pastoral
theology and member of the presbyteral council. He is currently pastor of the
"Sao Judas Tadeu" parish in Americana. He succeeds Bishop Luiz Demetrio
Valentini, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese upon
reaching the age limit was accepted by the Holy Father.
 - Msgr. Paulo Bosi Dal'Bo as bishop of Sao Mateus (area 15,496, population
469,000, Catholics 335,000, priests 46, religious 49), Brazil. The bishop-elect
was born in Colatina, Brazil in 1962 and was ordained a priest in 2000. He
holds
a degree in accounting sciences and master's degrees in social communications
and psychology of education. He has served in a number of roles in the diocese
of Colatina, including director of the "Nossa Senhora Mae dos Pobres" house of
formation, parish vicar and parish administrator, pastor, rector of the
diocesan
seminary and president of the Organisation of Seminaries and Philosophical and
Theological Institutes in Brazil. He is currently vicar general of the diocese
and parish priest.

___________________________________________________________

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www.visnews.org and www.vatican.va

Copyright (VIS):  the news contained in the services of the Vatican
Information Service may be reproduced wholly or partially by quoting
the source:  V. I. S. - Vatican Information Service.
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