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Public Opinion Doesn't Change Church Teaching

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November 06, 2013 - 4:17 PST

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA ADVISORY

Catholic Author and Media Expert Available to Comment on Bishop's Questionnaire

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO (November 6, 2013) - Response to a new story out of the Vatican has many in the media making it sound as if the Catholic Church has issued a poll to Catholics worldwide to consult on Church teaching.

At a press conference Nov. 5, the Vatican released the official preparatory document for the 2014 Synod of Bishops on the Family, providing an overview of topics to be discussed in the meeting. Included in the document is a series of questions, which are to be distributed to Bishop's conferences around the world.

News outlets around the world picked up on the story with headlines such as "Vatican polls Catholics on gay marriage, contraception, divorce ahead of major meeting" from the Associated Press.

According to Catholic author and media expert, Teresa Tomeo, the reality is that the questionnaire is meant to help solidify church teaching, not change it.

"The Church is doing just the opposite of what some media outlets are claiming; this is reaffirmation of teaching, not a change in teachings." Tomeo said, adding "All it takes is a closer look at the actual statement and questionnaire released through the Vatican press office."

With regard to the questionnaire portion, the document states: "The following series of questions allows the particular Churches to participate actively in the preparation of the Extraordinary Synod, whose purpose is to proclaim the Gospel in the context of the pastoral challenges facing the family today."

As Tomeo puts it, "While the Church wants to learn more about the challenges of contemporary family life, She can't change unchangeable teaching. And in fact wants to continually show how God's plan for the family is the best plan."

Tomeo addresses the teaching authority of the Church in her new book, God's Bucket List (Image, Nov. 5, 2013), "The teachings of Scripture and the Church don't depend on us," writes Tomeo. "They aren't true because we believe them. People of faith believe and practice theses teachings because they are true."

In God's Bucket List, Tomeo also addresses the issue of free will, saying "God does give us free will, but He also gives us plenty of evidence that His way is the high way - or the highest way - if only we would start paying attention." She goes on to say that the teachings of the Catholic Church are "not backward or oppressive but instead give us the best chance for real freedom and happiness."


TERESA TOMEO is a motivational speaker, best-selling Catholic author, and host of the daily morning radio program, "Catholic Connection", produced by Ave Maria Radio and syndicated on over 230 stations through the EWTN Catholic Radio Network. Teresa is a columnist for the national Catholic newspaper Our Sunday Visitor. She appears frequently on EWTN Catholic TV and co-hosts the EWTN program "The Catholic View for Women". Teresa has also served as a presenter and delegate at various Vatican conferences including at the Pontifical Council for the Family and the Pontifical Council for the Laity addressing media issues and the Church's teachings on women. Prior to her work in Catholic media Teresa was a radio and TV newswoman for nearly twenty years. Teresa has been featured on The O'Reilly Factor, Fox News, Fox & Friends, MSNBC, and the Dr. Laura Show, discussing issues of faith, media awareness, and Catholic Church teaching, especially as it relates to the culture.

Contact

Image Books/Random House
http://www.ImageCatholicBooks.com
CO, 80921 US
Katie Moore - Publicist, (719) 268-1936

Keywords

2014 Synod of Bishops on the Family, Vatican, Teresa Tomeo, church teaching, God's Bucket List

Category

Catholic Church

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