OPEN; FREE AND BRAVE !

There was a report in yesterday's Newspaper concerning an interview with the German Cardinal Walter Kasper about the current "Special Synod of the Vatican". during which such questions as "Marriage, Family and Sexuality", all subjects about which a celibate Cardinal surely knows everything, are being debated.
When questioned about such issues as Homosexuality, Contraception, or the possibility of remarried, divorced persons receiving holy Communion, the Cardinal is reported to have said this:
"There is not yet a solution to the question, for instance, about remarried divorcees and the Eucharist.
What is New, however, is that the Synod fathers (Cardinal  members of the Synod) are very open, free and brave in their communications with each other."
This, of course, begs the questions: Were the Cardinals during previous Synods close-minded, fettered and cowardly?
 "This Openness", the Cardinal then continues,  "has just now started. The final document, I believe, will be a consensus of Questions rather than Answers."
Cardinal Kasper must surely be commended for his honesty, when, in a veiled way, he admits that he does not expect any changes to the existing posture of the Church in these matters as a result of this Synod.
For instance, it is now, and will likely remain forbidden by the Church to use a condom in Africa, although this use would surely help in stopping the spread of Aids in parts of this Continent.
The expected reply from the Catholic quarters will be that abstinence is always the best protection against venereal disease and also the only permissible contraceptive.
This surely is cynicism of the highest degree, when one considers that many, maybe most Catholic Clergy are unable to remain celibate, but it is suggested that a normal, virile African male should do so.
However, let us return to Cardinal Kasper and his "Special Synod":
The question is put to the Cardinal: "In this Synod the forces defending existing doctrine stand in rigid opposition to those who would like to deal with Reality.Is this the composition of the two camps? 
To this the Cardinal replies: "One must join these two ideas: Doctrine and Reality. Doctrine is not pored in concrete and is not carved in stone. The question of remarried divorcees receiving Holy Communion is truly a key theme. It turns on "Mercy", which is not to be confused with "Giving -In" in respect of the principles.
Please, Mr. Kasper, tell me this again: You suggest to show "Mercy" to remarried divorcees, but you will not "give in" regarding the "Principles" (Doctrine or Dogma) of your church.
If I understand this correctly: The Principle remains in force, but you will show Mercy to those who act against these Principles.
Do I have this right ? Yes? No?
This is, as usual, the two-faced, fork-tongued position taken by the Church when it finds itself in an unsolvable dilemma.
Let me remind you of another "unalterable" doctrine:
Unbaptised children cannot, by doctrine or dogma be admitted to heaven, since St. Augustine, in the 5th Century, wrote that "unfortunately", due to Original Sin they cannot enter heaven.
What an embarrassment for the Church, mired in an absurd position, amid a reasonably enlightened lay world.
How can the Catholic church justify its position vis a vis unbaptised children and their inevitable slide into Hell, where eternal pain and suffering awaits them ?
Not a Problem: In the 13th Century they simply invented a place called "Limbo" and Thomas Aquinas assured concerned Catholic  parents that infants would not suffer pain and be "reasonably happy" in Limbo. 
And so it stayed until the 21st Century, when, in 2005, thirty Catholic Theologians from all over the world gathered in the Vatican as members of the "International Theological Commission".
As Vincent Bugliosi in his brilliant book "The Divinity of Doubt" exclaims: 
"Can you imagine that ? Thirty grown men, with all types of doctorate degrees, wearing suits and ties, fly to Rome and engage in serious discussions about Limbo. - It's mind boggling.
Two years later, on the 20th April 2007, this panel issues a 41 page report titled:
"The Hope and Salvation for Infants Who Die Without Being Baptised", in which they recommend to Pope Benedict XVI that the Catholic church should permit unbaptised children to go to heaven.
Isn't it absolutely audacious for the Catholic Church to assume for themselves the right to decide who goes where ? And how will they deal with the need to change a Dogma ?
The Dogma states: "Souls who depart this Life in a State of Original Sin are excluded from the beatific Vision of God.
And some maintain that this "exclusion" is tantamount to Hell.

Do we truly expect meaningful changes from this rigid institution?
Allow me a slight variation on a Biblical Quote:
"It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for the Roman Catholic church to change one iota of any of its existing Doctrines or its irrevocable Dogmas.

There would be so much more to say, but I shall quit while I am ahead.

so says 

Bertstravels.

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