Countdown to the Synod Archives

Two obscure synod topics: Marriage prep, forced unions
- Church
- Oct 3, 2014
ROME — On the eve of the Synod of Bishops on the family, battle lines have been drawn on hot-button issues such as divorced and remarried Catholics and annulments. Yet little is being said about two reasons that often cause a marriage to fail in the first place: lack of
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Cardinal Burke: No change in divorce, annulments
- Church
- Sep 30, 2014
Not only should Catholics who have divorced and remarried not expect permission to receive Communion following the upcoming synod of bishops, but any streamlining to make the annulment process easier is unlikely, too. That was the message from Cardinal Raymond Burke earlier today, in which he blasted those who advocate
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More couples are living together before marriage. What’s the Church to do?
- Life
- Sep 29, 2014
Kerry Sheridan had dated her now-husband, Danny, for 7 years when they got engaged in 2009. At that point, the Silver Spring, Md., couple decided they would move in together since the wedding would be just a few months away. They attended Mass each Sunday and their faith was important
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Sep 25, 2014

Bishops who gather next month at the Vatican to discuss family issues are not expected to put the church’s ban on artificial contraception up for debate, but they will address the how married couples deal with matters of family planning in societies that have largely embraced its use. And that

Bishops are going to focus on Natural Family Planning

Life

Sep 22, 2014

Alice Heinzen received a letter from the Vatican earlier this summer thanking her for accepting Pope Francis’ invitation to attend October’s Synod on the Family. Heinzen, who has worked for 17 years for the Diocese of La Crosse, Wisc., currently promoting Natural Family Planning, said she was taken by surprise.