By leaving space for local inculturation, by allowing time for personal discernment, Francis is putting into practice the decentralization of the church that he called for in previous exhortations.
Someone asked me, "If some of the stories in the bible aren't factual, then what's the proof that God can do anything at all?" That, my friends, is a personal thing -- what YOU believe God can do based on what you've read and understand is your own personal discernment.
In this way, one will build up a repertoire of conduct that reflects one's personal ethical discernment and discretion, which expresses one's personal ethical attainment and style.
I am never guilty of snobbery, as I see it (down the length of my nose, over the slight bump at the ridge), only of careful discernment in matters of personal taste.
How that feeling is expressed in practice is to be determined, he writes, not by "a new set of general rules, canonical in nature and applicable to all cases," but by "a responsible personal and pastoral discernment of particular cases".
"What is possible is simply a renewed encouragement to undertake a responsible personal and pastoral discernment of particular cases".
Francis seemed to back that stance in his letter, calling for there to be "responsible, personal and pastoral discernment of particular cases".
No situation is plainly black or white, the pope wrote: "The divorced who have entered a new union, for example, can find themselves in a variety of situations, which should not be pigeonholed or fit into overly rigid classifications leaving no room for a suitable personal and pastoral discernment".
There's never a place for strife, gossip or personal attacks, but serious discernment on issues of behavior, performance, quality, responsibility, stewardship and skill are absolutely necessary.
Spiritual discernment is always personal.
Putting together facts, research, personal experience -- and having an open-heart -- creates discernment.
