Delivered Before Synod: 790,000 'Save the Family' Petitions to Pope Francis
September 29, 2015, Vatican City – Faithful Catholics representing 62 pro-family organizations delivered a “Filial Appeal” addressed to His Holiness Pope Francis in Rome today, the feast of Saint Michael the Archangel.
The worldwide petition counts with the signatures of 8 cardinals, over 200 bishops and 790,791 priests, religious and faithful. Delivered at 9:30 AM on Tuesday, the prayerful petition expresses concern over “widespread confusion arising from the possibility that a breach has been opened within the Church that would accept adultery... and would virtually even accept homosexual unions.”
Several German prelates have issued confusing statements that contradict Catholic moral teaching, suggesting that same-sex unions contain positive elements. However, concerned Catholics are hopeful that His Holiness Pope Francis “will never disassociate pastoral practice from the teaching bequeathed by Jesus Christ and his vicars...”
“During the Pope's visit to Philadelphia another 13,700 Catholics joined the appeal to defend the sacred institution of marriage and family,” said TFP Student Action volunteer Damien Murphy. “Those who signed really support what the Church has taught for 2,000 years and would love to see the Pope reaffirm those perennial teachings during the Synod that starts on October 4.”
“The homosexual movement would like to muzzle the moral authority of the Church in our culture and force her to recognize same-sex unions as normal,” remarked John Ritchie, a spokesman for the American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property (TFP), one of the groups promoting the Filial Appeal. “Kim Davis' unjust imprisonment is a good example of what happens when you put government before God. Suddenly, there's no more tolerance for truth,” he said. “But the light of truth can overcome the darkness of the sexual revolution and save the future of the family at the upcoming Synod. Let's pray for that intention.”
The Filial Appeal to Pope Francis is online here:
http://www.tfpstudentaction.org/sign-petition-to-pope-francis.html