Thomas Schirrmacher

CP Guest Contributor

Inside the Vatican Synod on Family: ISIS Genocide of Christians (Day 16)

Upon the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Vatican Synod, I, the World Evangelical Alliance's representative at the Synod, called upon the international Christian community to demonstrate more solidarity with persecuted Christians in the Middle East and around the world.

Inside the Vatican Synod on Family: ISIS Genocide of Christians (Day 16)

Inside the Vatican Synod on Family: Where Are the Votes on the Final Document? (Day 12-14)

I would say that there were three groups overall: one third were on the middle ground, or the interventions did not touch "hot" topics; one third leaned to the "no changes" side; and one third leaned to the side called "progressive" here or "liberal" in the media, the latter term being both a wrong description and not loved by any of the progressives.

Inside the Vatican Synod on Family: Where Are the Votes on the Final Document? (Day 12-14)

Inside the Vatican Synod on Family: Evangelical Catholics? (Day 10)

Today I had the privilege to contribute a paragraph on the covenant character of marriage, showing that God's grace comes always first and that a Christian marriage always relies on the promise and grace given by God, that especially becomes activated when we humans reach our borders, but the Holy Spirit helps us to overcome our weaknesses.

Inside the Vatican Synod on Family: Evangelical Catholics? (Day 10)

Inside the Vatican Synod on Family: The Sacrament of Marriage (Day 8-9)

Earlier on Saturday late afternoon, in one of the rare sessions with open speaking for one hour, for the first time the two sides on marriage clashed within 10 minutes. One bishop stated that it is the smell of the devil even to discuss any changes on how to adapt the Catholic teaching on marriage to difficult situations.

Inside the Vatican Synod on Family: The Sacrament of Marriage (Day 8-9)