Miami Archbishop Reacts To Pope's New Guidelines
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Miami's Catholic Archbishop is reacting to the release of Pope Francis' long awaited guide to love, sex and marriage.
The Amoris Laetitia is a document calling for a less judgmental look at Catholics, keeping them close to the church, realizing life today can be messy.
"The pope has not changed tune, because the tune is the same, certainly he presents a different tone," said Arch Bishop Thomas Wenski with the Archdiocese of Miami.
It addresses Catholics who are divorced and remarried.
"The pope calls divorce evil, but leaves the door open for people who are remarried without an annulment to take communion," said Wenski.
The bishop said the pope is calling on churches to guide them toward annulment - a simpler process than before.
"Before the pope's streamlining some requirement, if you were married in Bogota, you'd have to go to Bogota to request an annulment. That's no longer the case," said Wenski. "It's streamlining to help people get right with the church."
As for gay couples who are married, the pope famously said "who am I to judge," but that did not stop him from a judgment on same-sex marriage in this paper.
It says, "there are absolutely no grounds for considering homosexual unions."
"He did say the same sex unions can never be equal to natural marriage or marriage between man and woman. The church says we have to be patient, welcoming, tolerant non-judgemental," said Wenski.
On gender identity, the document says "accept our humanity, as it was created," but that's not exactly the acceptance the transgender community was looking for.
The document also calls for reaching out to those who may have been forgotten.
"It calls us to go out to the people on the edges of life, of society and affirm them and tell them they are important," said Wenski.
This document does allow discretion among regional churches and at times is quite practical, recommending marital advice for young couples. Suggesting they go on trips together or share the chores.
Pope Francis said Catholics should let their conscience show them how to behave – not church rules.
Click here to read the document.