Commentary on the Instrumentum Laboris: Rafael Navarro-Valls on Chapter III of Part III
Rafael Navarro-Valls, professor of Canon Law and General Secretary of Spain‘s Royal Academy of Jurisprudence and Legislation, continues the commentaries on the Instrumentum Laboris published here as we wait for the Synod on the family. He comments Chapter III of Part III of the document, entitled "The Family and Accompaniment by the Church," which puts the accent on the idea of how the Church should approach wounded families. The researcher argues that the legitimate concern of pastors for the many cases of suffering and irregularities must be accompanied by a concrete and constant commitment to accompany families who want to live their faith, especially at a time when this desire clashes with the affirmation of a culture contrary to the principles of Christian anthropology. "The accompaniment must be full of wisdom and diversified in accordance to the needs—writes the author—sometimes just listening in silence; at other times, taking the lead to indicate the path to follow; and in other moments, standing behind, to support and encourage."
Finally, he addresses the issue of the sacrament of the Eucharist for divorcees and of the nullity of marriage, reaffirming the need to explain to the faithful the reasons of certain limits, because—quoting Chesterton, he recalls—"Don’t ever take a fence down until you know the reason why it was put up!"