06/03/2016, 14.00
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Amoris Laetitia on Thai TV, to be read “with joy”

by Weena Kowitwanij

Mgr Thanya-Anan, deputy secretary of the Thai Bishops’ Conference, spoke on a Catholic TV programme about Pope Francis’ latest Apostolic Exhortation.  Although the topic is difficult, Pope Francis “deals with it in a simple and direct way."

Bangkok (AsiaNews) – Mgr Vissanu Andrew Thanya-Anan, deputy general secretary of the Thai Bishops' Conference (CBCT), spoke on a well-known Thai TV station, underscoring the importance of Pope Francis’ latest Apostolic Exhortation, released on 8 April.

During the show, the prelate noted that although the subject matter of Amoris Laetitia "is quite complicated, His Holiness deals with it in a simple and direct way. For this reason, I invite all Catholics to read it with the same joy that is mentioned in the title."

Saengdham, which means the ‘light of ethics’, airs every Sunday at 5 am on a Channel 2.  Last Sunday, Mgr Thanya-Anan said that that "the exhortation is a consequence of the two synods on the theme of the family in 2014 and in 2015".

"His Holiness intends to help solve family problems by collecting first-hand information from Catholic families around the world through questionnaires that were sent to the bishops."

The first chapters of the document, the prelate noted, "draw the reader's attention because they take into account local contexts in terms of the traditions and limits in each region of the world. Chapters 4 and 5 (on love in marriage and love’s fruitfulness) are the most important for families."

The meaning of Chapter 8, on the other hand, "is the accompaniment, discernment and integration of sensitive issues and must be read by priests, who have an important role to play in helping the people of God and providing them His mercy."

At the end of his brief lecture, the Thai bishop quoted Card Christoph Schönborn, who in April presented the Apostolic Exhortation to reporters, emphasising Pope Francis’s simple style.

“At the very beginning of Pope Francis’ pontificate His Holiness greeted the audience gathered in St Peter square with the very simple word of ‘good evening’,” the cardinal said. For Mgr Thanya-Anan the same style can be found in Amoris Laetitia.

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