A family walks past a poster of Pope Francis inside a train station in Manila during the pontiff's visit to the Philippines in 2015. (Photo by Eloisa Lopez)
In a three-part series of features, ucanews.com explores reactions and issues from Catholic leaders in the regions we cover about Pope Francis' April 8 apostolic exhortation "Amoris Laetitia" (The Joy of Love), on Love in the Family." Today's feature, the final in the series, examines reactions from Southeast Asia.
There was a time in the past 10 years that Natasya, a Catholic woman from the district of Matraman in East Jakarta, did not receive Communion.
"It was difficult," she says. "But I didn’t have a choice. It's the Catholic Church's teaching. I had to obey it," says the 36-year old.
Natasya married a Muslim man in a civil wedding in 2000. But she found it hard to live a life with somebody who was of a different religion. The couple divorced 11 years later.
The mother of one daughter knew that she was "living in sin" and could not receive Communion as a divorcee.
"In the beginning I felt annoyed with the church's teaching," she says. "Jesus comes to sinful people, right?"
Eventually, Natasya went to see a priest in her parish. "I thought that Jesus would never refuse those willing to repent," she says.
With Pope Francis' exhortation AmorisLaetitia, Natasya feels relieved.
"I agree with Pope Francis," she says. "Pastors should understand better the situation faced by the faithful," she says.
A lay minister gives communion during a Holy Week observance in the Philippines. (Photo by Joe Torres)
Stronger pastoral approach
Pope Francis' family exhortation Amoris Laetitia, or the "Joy of Love," comes at a time when many Catholics are calling for "less judgment and more compassion."
Cory Villafania, a retired educator and one of the lay participants in the 2015 Synod of Bishops on the Family, said the pope's exhortation "gave us the deeper meaning of what really love is, especially in the family."
She said Amoris Laetitia shows that "love is patience … because love seeks to understand and to dialogue." The document calls for respect for the human person despite his or her shortcomings.
Villafania admitted that there are issues that were not addressed or were not given much emphasis by the papal exhortation.
She says these issues must be handled with "tenderness, inclusion, and accompaniment."
A stronger pastoral approach is needed to address local cultural issues, says Villafania, adding that Amoris Laetitia provides pastors the freedom "to discern and take into consideration the reality in their localities."
Father Hibertus Hartana, executive secretary of the Commission for Family of the Indonesian bishops' conference, said the papal exhortation is a challenge for the church to pay more attention to the life of families.
"It means that we must stand on the concrete life of families with all their concrete problems," said the priest.
"The approach isn’t merely about teachings, but also how the Catholic Church presents, involves and says hello to families through its spiritual attention, consolation, and encouragement," added Hartana.
Pope Francis stressed in Amoris Laetitia that pastoral care for families should be consistent with the situation of life and the real experience of families.
Grappling with pope's mission of mercy
In the Philippines, Catholics are looking forward to how church leaders would translate the papal exhortation, which pushes the theme of mercy and compassion, into pastoral guidelines.
"It's a great document," said lawyer Antonio La Vina, a professor at the Jesuit-run Ateneo de Manila University. "I like that Pope Francis emphasizes mercy, conscience, and discernment," he said.
He noted that the document, which reminds everybody not to discriminate against gays, and points out that sex is not just for procreation, is "specially kind to divorced and remarried Catholics.
Archbishop Socrates Villegas of Lingayen-Dagupan, president of the Philippine bishops' conference, stressed that Amoris Laetitia does not depart from the teaching of the church.
"It is in the treatment of persons that the pope wishes to see significant change," Archbishop Villegas said in a pastoral letter to the faithful following the released of the papal exhortation.
The prelate said what Pope Francis wants the church to show is that "mercy that does not overlook sin, but that looks lovingly on the sinner, and prays for him, aids him and embraces him that he may abandon sin and receive wholeheartedly the grace that is constantly offered him."
Pope Francis holds a meeting with Filipino families during his visit to the Philippines in 2015. (Photo by Joe Torres)
Hope for reconciliation
During Pope Francis' visit to Sri Lanka and the Philippines in 2015, men and women estranged from spouses, gays and lesbians, people engaged in extramarital sex, and couples struggling with conscience for using contraceptives were among the huge crowds that lined up the streets of Colombo and Manila.
Few believed the charismatic Pope Francis would usher in a doctrinal revolution in a church where incremental changes take centuries to filter down to dioceses and parishes. But those who have felt like outsiders in their church said Pope Francis’ message of mercy and compassion fueled hopes for reconciliation.
The reactions to the pope’s Amoris Laetitia document range from praise, relief, to wary optimism and fear and rejection.
"For some, Pope Francis does not go far enough, for others, he has crossed boundaries of doctrine," said La Vina. "I think he chose to be right at the middle with a pastoral approach that Catholics will appreciate."
Father Roy Cimagala, a media commentator based in the central Philippine city of Cebu, acknowledged that the new things and approaches presented in the papal document "can always create some stir in the minds and hearts of some people who are understandably attached to the traditional ways of doing things."
A headline in a blog critical of Catholic clergy, and Pope Francis in particular, jeered: "That was Fast: Philippines’ Bishops Order Holy Communion for Adulterers Immediately."
It was a reaction to Archbishop Villegas' call to fellow bishops and priests to welcome those who have kept themselves out of the church because of a sense of guilt and shame, saying "mercy cannot wait."
The archbishop, however, stressed that the pope was not condoning "whatever may be wrong or worse, sinful," when he called for more hospitality, welcome, friendship, even communion and solidarity with those whose lives deviate from traditional church teachings.
Keeping faith
In January 2015, Liberty Blancaflor spent six hours under a heavy downpour waiting for the pope to pass by along Roxas Boulevard in Manila. Most of the time, she was silently praying "for the Holy Spirit to touch the hardened souls of our clergy."
In 1990s, Blancaflor was in the middle of a difficult relationship. She sought pastoral advice from a priest who said the battered wife should refrain from receiving Communion until she severed her relationship.
"I thought he would point me to where I could receive help, but he dismissed that. He only condemned me, said the bad thing happened because I sinned," Blancaflor told ucanews.com.
In a church struggling to hold on to believers, Pope Francis can take heart in Blancaflor. She continued to seek spiritual counsel in the two years she struggled to escape an abusive partner. She remained a devout Catholic, attending two prayer sessions weekly, aside from Sunday Mass. She has since married and once more partakes of Communion.
But she no longer goes to confession.
"I just think, it's them — priests — not my God, not my faith. I believe God is compassionate and sees into our hearts," she said.
Challenge to pastors
Father Hartana of Indonesia admitted that ordained pastors must learn from families. "[Many priests] often lack skills to understand the complexity of families," he said.
He said Indonesia's Catholic families are often burdened by financial problems and other "challenges" such as "immature individuals" living with different religions.
The priest said Indonesia's pastors use "local wisdoms" as part of their pastoral care for families. He said that with the various cultures in the country, an "inculturation process" is necessary.
"We know that local cultures are not the culture of the Catholic Church. They are local cultures that are highlighted by Christian faith, said Father Hartana.
Cory Villafania, however, said marriage is still possible even between people of different religions as long as "love is greater than the differences."
She noted that some Muslims and Christians set aside religion to be able to marry. "There is no guidance," Villania noted. She said there are also couples who convert just to get married.
"It is a manifestation of a shallow faith," she said. "If you are a true Muslim or a true Catholic, you will seek for an agreement and understanding before the union," said Villafania.
Bishop Gerardo Alminaza of San Carlos, however, said Amoris Laetitia "doesn't have to settle everything."
He said that with the document, the pope has entrusted to bishops and pastors, in various regions, the job "to accompany, integrate, discern, and express closeness and care to those who are hurting, wounded, or feeling excluded."
"In forming consciences, we empower our faithful to make decisions in the light of the Word and of our Faith," said Bishop Alminaza. "There are no one-size-fits-all solutions."
He said the challenge for bishops and priests is to provide "adequate accompaniment in discernment" so that couples and families are "led, empowered, and supported to choose the most pleasing action to God."
"There are no pre-fabricated answers. We need to listen, dialogue, and care enough to effectively touch, heal, and enlighten them," said Bishop Alminaza.
With reports from Mark Saludes in Manila and Katharine R. Lestari and Ryan Dagur in Jakarta.
