From the Synod: Observers say media coverage “doesn’t reflect what we see in there”

From today’s press briefing, via CNS: 

Two couples attending the Synod of Bishops on the family said what surprised them most about their first synod in Rome was reading inaccurate media coverage of the closed-door proceedings, the diversity of problems families face around the world and the synod fathers’ great concern and compassion for the family.

Even though Ketty De Rezende of Brazil studied and lived in the United States and Canada, she said hearing about the diversity of challenges families face in other parts of the world came as a surprise to her.

Ketty, with her husband Pedro, are active in Brazil in the pastoral care of families facing difficulties. But much of what they encountered in the Americas was very different from some of the problems needing attention in Asia and Africa, she said.

Ketty and Pedro De Rezende, professors in mathematics and computer science, respectively, at the University of Campinas, Brazil, spoke to the press Oct. 12 during a Vatican news conference.

The many difficulties facing families, discussed during the first week of the synod, “did surprise us. I think we weren’t quite aware of all these challenges,” she said.

Pedro told reporters what surprised him most was “what the press has been publishing.”

“Many, many times it doesn’t reflect what we see in there,” he said.

The synod proceedings are closed to the press, but synod participants are allowed to be interviewed and to release their written speeches to the public.

Pedro De Rezende said that instead of objective reporting on what was being said by synod participants, what he was seeing seemed to be suggestions about “what synod fathers should talk about.”

Read more.