REALITY BITES

VATICAN CITY POPE: EUTHANASIA LEGISLATION IN EUROPE IS SIGN OF 'THROWAWAY CULTURE' DEATH OF FR GEORGE WADDING CSsR

Increasing calls to legalise euthanasia in several European countries, as well as the disregard for vulnerable people and the unborn, are signs of a "throwaway culture" that is gaining ground across the continent, Pope Francis says. "What is (deemed) useless is discarded. Old people are disposable material; they are a nuisance. Not all of them, but of course, in the collective subconscious of the throwaway culture, the old, the terminally ill, and unwanted children, too; they are returned to the sender before they are born," the pope said in an interview with COPE, the radio station owned by the Spanish bishops' conference, broadcast on September 1. "This throwaway culture has marked us. And it marks the young and the old. It has a strong influence on one of the tragedies of today's European culture," he said.

In March, Spain's parliament passed a law legalising euthanasia, making it the fourth European country to legalise physician-assisted suicide after Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg.

Other European countries, such as Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Finland and Norway, allow for what is known as "passive euthanasia," in which patients, under strict circumstances, can elect to not receive treatments, such as nutrition or hydration, that would prolong their lives.

Recently, in Italy, 750,000 people signed a petition to abolish a clause in the Italian criminal code that makes assisted suicide punishable by five to 12 years in prison.

Pope Francis also lamented "the demographic winter" in Europe, particularly due to increased cases of abortion. The pope said that while he does "not like to enter into discussions" on whether abortions are "possible up to here or whether it is not possible up to there," what is indisputable is the existence of human life. "Any embryology manual given to a student in medical school says that by the third week of conception, sometimes before the mother realises (that she is pregnant), all the organs in the embryo are already outlined, even the DNA. It is a life, a human life," Francis said. On August 24, 2021, Fr George Wadding CSsR died in Dublin. Fr George had a strong relationship with Redemptorist Communications going back over 50 years. As a young moral theologian, he wrote a monthly column for this magazine, which addressed topical moral questions. He contributed many articles on a range of subjects over the years. Fr George also was the author of several hugely popular booklets, such as his reflections on the icon of Our Mother of Perpetual Help and a guide to Praying the Rosary.

A warm, generous man, deeply loved by all who knew him, we entrust Fr George's soul to the mercy of the God he served so faithfully.

DUBLIN

The late Fr George Wadding

THURLES ARCHDIOCESE OF CASHEL AND EMLY LAUNCHES PASTORAL PLAN

REDEMPTORIST ORDINATION

A four-year listening process to bring about a church that will better serve the people and communities of the Archdiocese of Cashel & Emly was initiated on September 12, with the launch of the diocesan pastoral plan, 'Seeds of Hope'.

The blueprint for transitioning the church to this new era of inclusivity is set out across five 'Seeds of Hope' – Faith & Spirituality, Youth & Family, Community Engagement, Participation in Liturgy and Leadership & CoResponsibility – that will guide the church in the years ahead.

Some 2,500 people from representative demographics across the archdiocese were consulted in the consensus-focused plan. The plan confronts some of the key issues facing the church, not least in the area of Leadership & Co-responsibility, where it acknowledges that "Leadership into the future is a challenge for all of us and it should be seen as such."

The plan emphasises the respect for the work many priests have done in the past. "But the church is changing now and the priest-led church of the past will need to embrace a partnership approach with people into the future," it states.

The plan recommends training for both priests and laypeople so that they move towards this new model of co-responsibility. Specifically, the plan addresses some of the biggest issues the church has faced over recent decades, not least the failure to recognise the role of women in the church. "The inclusion of women in leadership roles as equal members of the church is a priority into the future. Women must be enabled to fulfil their role in developing the mission of the church," it states.

The report acknowledges that minority groups – from divorced or separated people to LGBT+, migrants and the Travelling Community –should all feel they belong to the parish faith community. So, too, should those who consider themselves 'cultural Catholics.'

Care of the environment also has a strong focus, with a recommendation to establish an eco-justice group with children and their parents to support eco-spirituality development.

It acknowledges that communication at diocesan and parish levels has become a challenge. "All avenues of communication, especially the positive aspects of social media, need to be utilised, particularly with young people, so that they can make their contribution to the future direction of the church."

The ordination of Fr Ryan Holovlasky CSsR took place on Sunday, September 5, in St Joseph's Redemptorist Church Dundalk. Archbishop Eamon Martin was the ordaining bishop. This was an important day in the life of Fr Ryan and a day of great joy for the Irish Redemptorists. For more information on the Redemptorist way of life, contact our vocations director, Fr Brian Nolan CSsR, at vocations@cssr.ie

DUNDALK

Newly ordained Fr Ryan Holovlasky and Archbishop Eamon Martin

VATICAN RELEASES GUIDANCE ON SYNODS

VATICAN CITY

The Vatican has issued a 'handbook' for dioceses as part of the global church's preparation for the 2023 assembly of the Synod of Bishops, discussing the theme, 'For a synodal church: communion, participation and mission.' "Pope Francis invites the entire church to reflect on a theme that is decisive for its life and mission: 'It is precisely this path of synodality which God expects of the church of the third millennium,'" the new document said. "The purpose of this synod is not to produce more documents. Rather, it is intended to inspire people to dream about the church we are called to be, to make people's hopes flourish, to stimulate trust, to bind up wounds, to weave new and deeper relationships, to learn from one another, to build bridges, to enlighten minds, warm hearts, and restore strength to our hands for our common mission," the preparatory document said.

The handbook offers guidelines for bishops and those helping facilitate the synodal process locally on how they can best listen to and consult with Catholics and the wider community, particularly those on the margins of society, as well as Christians and non-Christians.

The materials were released on September 7 at a news conference at the Vatican and online in English and Spanish at the synod's official website: synod.va/en.html and synod. va/es.html.

Pope Francis is scheduled to formally open the synod process at the Vatican on October 9-10. The bishop of every diocese should open the process in his diocese on October 17. The diocesan phase runs until April.

The materials present several questions to help prompt reflection, input and ideas from as many people as possible.

The questions fall under ten general themes, and people can address what is most pertinent to their situation and "share with honesty and openness about their real-life experiences, and to reflect together on what the Holy Spirit might be revealing through what they share with one another," the document said.

6 MEXICO CITY MEXICAN SUPREME COURT INVALIDATES SECOND STATE LAW AGAINST ABORTION

The Mexican Supreme Court has invalidated a clause in a state constitution that provided protection of life "from the moment in which an individual is conceived … until their death," arguing that no state government could determine when life begins; only the federal constitution could determine that.

The unanimous September 9 decision also denied any legal rights to the unborn, with the decision stating, "For the court, it is inadmissible to establish that the embryo and foetus deserve the same legal protection as born persons."

The court also said in its ruling, "Although the product of pregnancy deserves protection that increases over time as the pregnancy progresses, this protection cannot ignore the rights of women and pregnant people to reproductive freedom and, in particular, their right to interrupt the pregnancy in certain cases."

After the court decision, the Mexican bishops' conference tweeted: "Those of us convinced of the value of life have no need for a murderous law such as the one that is being approved … We hope that your option for life is not conditional on an ideology, rather is motivated by faith, hope and love."