Recognition of ‘other forms of family’ (Cupich)



Summaries of group reports

The English-speakers
English Group A (moderated by Cardinal Gracias)
Group A was concerned “the faith dimension”, “a Christological perspective”, and an emphasis on Christ’s relationships with people were not strong enough in the IL. (Instrumentum laboris)  
“Relationship is clearly the key to encounter with youth,” they reflected.
This was the only Group to mention one serious absence in the document: chastity.
“We noted that a proclamation of chastity, as achievable and good for our young people, is missing from the document, they wrote.
(...)

English Group B (Moderated by Cardinal Cupich)
Group B objected to the defence of the traditional family. Citing “many other forms of family”, they asked: “Does leadership in the Church require bishops and priests to proclaim the Gospel truth by denying that these are families? Or does our leadership require us to accompany the young people in the reality in which they find themselves…?  Is it possible for us to both accept and even honour the family unit that a young person finds herself in and to share the Gospel ideal to her?”
In underscoring the need of the young for friendship, Group B conflated the relationship with the family:  “Friendship is yearned for by our young people. They find community through this and they find family in this way.”


Spanish Group A (Moderated by Cardinal Maradiaga) 
“It is necessary to know what kind of Church young people think about and want, and to assume preventative attitudes and give signs of credibility, without which things won’t change,” they wrote.
There were three main points Group A thought should be emphasized in discussing ministry to the young: 
“1) to listen more profoundly in freedom, empathy, without prejudices, in the style of Jesus, 2) abuses, apart from damaging the Church, go against being disciples of Jesus, 3) to give leadership to young people so that they may transform social and ecclesial structures.”
Strangely they posited a “right” of young people to make mistakes: 
“The Working Document reflects what young people have said and they are asking us to open up a space for them in the Church, recognizing that our young people have great value and have the right to make mistakes. “
In response, they thought a “charismatic” theology should be introduced. 
“It is necessary to have a theology that is more charismatic than institutional,” they wrote, “based on an a hopeful, welcoming, integrating anthropology, one that brings joy, since evangelization is the announcements of the beatitudes, and in the missionary going out that evangelizes through a Christian life and the service of others.”
Spanish Group A indicated that the IL’s section on Life Choices (Points 16, 17 and 18) was very important but that the Church should avoid giving negative precepts to the young. Curiously, they say the Church should simply “accompany” as the young make “mistakes”:
“... it is necessary to avoid saying to young people ‘that should not be done,’ but rather make them see the consequences of their acts, since an empathetic Church is one that accompanies despite errors, without imposing, prohibiting, nor demanding,” they wrote.