For the past several weeks, the Bishops of the world were gathered in Rome, having a series of discussions. These meetings are called "Synods" in our Church, and can be called by the Pope at any time, on any topic. This latest Synod was on topics including family and marriage, and concluded on Oct. 19th.
If you spend any time watching the news or surfing the web, you undoubtedly came across some interesting news headlines during this Synod. I myself was watching a news station one night, as the anchor began a report on the Synod saying "a DRAMATIC SHIFT IN TONE today from the Vatican..."
The important thing to know here is that many of these headlines were simply not true. The problem came in that many people weren't aware of how the Synod worked/what its function was. The Synod really was a series of small group discussions, with the "notes" from these discussions being published. There was no official, teaching document published.
The trouble often comes when the media tries to make headlines when it comes to Church events (this is after all the purpose of the media, to make headlines). It is important for us as Catholics to know the facts, to know what is actually happening, so that when we see headlines, we can know whether or not they are accurate.
If you spend any time watching the news or surfing the web, you undoubtedly came across some interesting news headlines during this Synod. I myself was watching a news station one night, as the anchor began a report on the Synod saying "a DRAMATIC SHIFT IN TONE today from the Vatican..."
The important thing to know here is that many of these headlines were simply not true. The problem came in that many people weren't aware of how the Synod worked/what its function was. The Synod really was a series of small group discussions, with the "notes" from these discussions being published. There was no official, teaching document published.
The trouble often comes when the media tries to make headlines when it comes to Church events (this is after all the purpose of the media, to make headlines). It is important for us as Catholics to know the facts, to know what is actually happening, so that when we see headlines, we can know whether or not they are accurate.