Amoris Laetitia

The organizers of a 2017 conference of bishops and theologians to examine how Pope Francis' family life exhortation could be applied at the local level have put together a volume collecting the participants' discussions.

Cardinals Raymond Burke and Walter Brandmüller, two of the four cardinals who openly challenged Pope Francis in 2016 over his apostolic exhortation Amoris Laetitia, approved a new declaration April 7 in Rome.

I traveled with pastoral leaders and theologians across the U.S. to assist our bishops in discussing Pope Francis' 2016 apostolic exhortation on family life. Let me offer you seven takeaways.

A series of daylong seminars will be led by a team of theologians and bishops, aimed at helping U.S. bishops better implement Pope Francis' exhortation on family life.

In a speech at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom Feb. 9, Cardinal Blase Cupich reflected on Amoris Laetitia, calling aspects of it "nothing short of revolutionary." He said that some critics should consider it in light of the new and various struggles facing families today.

American Catholic: Parishes need to be more welcoming to families, especially families in difficulties. Rather than greeting them with a list of rules to be followed, the document encourages "listening" as the first response. 

Distinctly Catholic: At last week's Amoris Laetitia​ conference in Boston, one of the most striking features was what was not said. For example, the phrase "natural law" was uttered not once.

Distinctly Catholic: Looking at the "Amoris Laetitia: A New Momentum for Moral Formation and Pastoral Practice" conference, what specifically does it says about the shape of the debate over this apostolic exhortation?

Perspective: The exhortation is a beautiful, readable document that offers to help priestly and lay ministers in their outreach ministries to families. In my research, I found that in at least six countries, bishops and cardinals together with theologians had taken creative steps to share "The Joy of Love" with their people. Could our bishops do the same?

At a conference on considering how to implement the 2016 document Amoris Laetitia, Fr. Antonio Spadaro​ said Pope Francis thinks the church can't issue general rules that apply to whole categories of people.

Co-host Cardinal Blase Cupich says Pope Francis is asking the church to see families as a "privileged place that we are graced to be a part of," where God is alive and at work in the world.

Analysis: Even before the two synods on marriage and the family that served as the basis for "The Joy of Love," disputes were arising within the hierarchy over pastoral practice.

In discussions Oct. 5-6 at Boston College, cardinals, bishops, and other participants will discuss the "new momentum" Amoris Laetitia gives local bishops to renew pastoral practices toward families.

British Catholic author offers pointed critique of a “filial correction” a few dozen Catholics gave recently to Pope Francis' 2016 apostolic exhortation Amoris Laetitia ("The Joy of Love").