July 22, 2023
There were 25 participants from all parts of the world including Germany, UK, Ireland, US, Canada, Australia, Kenya, and Korea. We began with our opening synodal prayer. Luca Badini introduced Thomas Söding, Professor for New Testament at Bochum University, Germany, Vice-President of the Synodal Path in Germany, delegate at the European Continental Assembly in Prague, appointed expert of the world synod.
Presentation:
Thomas began by indicating that he would offer a brief theological reflection on synodality giving special impetus to the German Synodal Path in the horizon of the worldwide synodal processes in the Catholic Church and compare that synodal experience with Australia and Latin America. Like the early Christians who came together in their cultural centers where they would be reaching out and spreading the word, the German Synodal Path came together in Frankfurt. They celebrated Mass each Friday which was the very heart of the synodal gathering. Since there is no model of synodality, the objective of the German Synodal Path was to find balance between episcopal and synodal structures. In a synodal structure, discernment and decision-making must be integrated. The leadership responsibility of the bishops is to honor the binding nature of the results of the decisions made. The laity need the right to participate actively in the election of pastoral leaders and in fundamental decision-making for what concerns them in their community/parish/diocese.
Here are the criteria needed to be examined:
Responding to the pastoral challenge
In the Catholic Church, there are worldwide problems of insufficient participation. Sustainable solutions are needed. Global synodality is the best way to look for them.
Overcoming the scandal of sexual and spiritual abuse
In Germany, as in other countries, it is those affected who demand systemic consequences to solve systemic problems.
Searching for new forms of synodal partnership
There is a gap in current canon law. It would be important to fill them. The basis must be a re-look at Lumen Gentium in order to integrate the bishops into the people of God.
Renewing the Church
The Catholic Church is on a good way to learn synodality as linked to episcopality. Now is the time not to pronounce bans, but to seize opportunities.
Pope Francis has developed the guiding idea of a “synodal church.” There is currently no fixed model, but there is a worldwide search for convincing forms. Three examples are often discussed: Plenary Council in Australia, CEAMA in Latin America, and the Synodal Path in Germany.
- Australia has held a plenary council (2020-2021) – and, due to Roman dispensations, has changed canon law to such an extent that the voices of the laity carry much more weight than the relevant canons provide for.
- In Latin America, the continental bishops’ conference is slowly evolving towards an assembly of all the faithful. Particularly striking is the Conferencia Ecclesial de la Amazonía (CEAMA). Canonically established by the Pope, bishops work together with “lay people,” also in leadership; religious are a driving force; the indigenous population is represented.
- In Germany, the Bishops’ Conference decided in 2019 to go a synodal path together with the Central Committee of German Catholics (ZdK), the independent lay representation. The focus was on four topics derived from the abuse investigation: balance of powers, priestly roles, women’s rights, and sexual morality. 230 delegates have met in 5 plenary assemblies from 2020-2023 to deliberate and decide together.
Phase II is now starting: evaluation, further work on the topics and, above all, building up a synodal counsel at the federal level that makes synodality a structural principle.
So far, there is no canonical passe-partout for this model. Because of the reform impulses, it has received a lot of support worldwide, but also clear criticism.
Pope Francis has developed the guiding idea of a “synodal church”. There is currently no fixed model, but there is a worldwide search for convincing forms. The 2023 and 2024 World Synods in Rome are a forum to re-mediate the episcopal structure, which is part of the binding tradition of the Church with the synodal structure, which is also part of the Church’s tradition but has been pushed back in modern times.
The Instrumentum laboris mentions essential questions of church reorientation but does not yet provide answers. It is the task of the synods to provide these answers.
The fact that, in addition to the elected bishops, 70 lay people and 10 religious will also have a seat and a vote in the Synodal Assembly is a breakthrough, but it must be followed by further steps.
Synods with bishops, religious and lay people, who have a say in decision-making and decision-taking, must become a structural principle of the Church at the local, regional, national, continental, and global levels. What is needed now is: networking of lay organizations and theology, coalition with reform-minded bishops, elaboration of models that can serve as best-practice examples.
Q & A:
Joe Healey (US and Kenya) asked what is actually happening in Rome – action not words – regarding changes in canon law? We’ve heard Francis has two canon lawyers working full time on these changes.
Thomas shares the fear many have expressed of what happens after October 2024. What he wishes:
- Critical analysis of canon law: Vatican II produced many regulations of the principles and context of canon law in favor of pastoral leadership, but the reading of these today is unbalanced.
- Better dialogue between Church law and political law. It is not possible that the Constitution of the Catholic Church is at a lower level than it is in democratic societies.
We need to organize participation and decision-making in the Church and later in elections. Right now, that is now possible but is what needs to be changed. His hope is that this is addressed successfully in the Synod.
Joe Pepe Sannino said for centuries the Church has ruled from a top-down power. But the world today doesn’t fit that model and must adapt to the times. Is this analysis real?
Thomas agreed and said this is a result of the Church in the 19th century opposing enlightenment and the French Revolution. In Europe for a hundred years the Church was successful in leading in this fashion opposing modernism. But by the mid-twentieth century this began to be challenged. In Germany, their concept is not to see democracy in opposition to the Church. The challenge of today is to balance the top-down with the bottom-up. Responsibility and transparency are needed, and he hopes Pope Francis will agree to move the Church in this direction. Of course, there is opposition as is evidenced by the letter the German Synodal Path received from 50 American bishops. We need coalition building by the reform-minded bishops.
Peter Johnstone (Australia) said their Plenary Council was very much controlled by the hierarchy unlike the German Synodal Path that represented both bishops and laity working together. Regarding women in the Church, the German Synodal Path appeared to handle this matter quite responsibly. His concern that the issue of the equality of women in leadership and ministry is not even mentioned.
For the German Synodal Path, the topic of women was not without problems. There was a majority agreement among bishops to move forward with the approval of women as deacons but any discussion beyond that was suggested that they begin a process of dialogue moving more cautiously. If it were only Ireland, Scotland, Wales, France, Austria, and Switzerland, this issue would have moved forward. But when we go to the Nordic and eastern countries, we were not able to convince most bishops to move courageously in this direction. We need a clear process to strengthen this point.
Paul Hwang (Korea) asked if the Ecclesial Conference of the Amazon been officially recognized by the Vatican? Thomas said yes, it is – not for Latin America – but for Amazonia based on his contact of information. However, it has statutes that are experimental.
Joe Boyle (US) said it seems we have Church tradition on our side. Going back to the doctrine of 1870, it doesn’t say the pope or bishops are infallible. It says the Church is infallible. All we have to do is equate the Church to the People of God.
Thomas added that what is often lacking is a means for the people to come together. This was what the German Synodal Path attempted to do.
Colm Holmes (Ireland) asked what is the likely outcome of these Synods both 2023 and 2024? He personally is not optimistic. All the people have been selected by the bishops with no consultation with lay organizations. The best outcome he can conceive is that that the more progressive countries will be encouraged to move forward with change and the more traditional countries permitted to stay as they are.
Thomas shared Colm’s hope for the more optimistic outcome, but he doesn’t expect many decisions to be made this year. He anticipates that more dialogue will be called for so that the dynamics of the dialogue will be strong enough to make significant changes.
Marie Sobolewski (Australia) said, first, the Synod is a test of the integrity of the institutional Church. They must report accurately what lay people have said around the world. The Church has over the past not been open and truthful about decisions reached by the laity. Secondly, they speak so much about the institution but so little about God.
Thomas responded that there are strong conservative pressure groups out there. We need to hear about the necessity and possibility of Church reform in the spirit of faith.
Margaret Mary Moore (US) made the point that priests use canon law to their own benefit. Also, with divorced and remarried, they can play that game with canon law. It seems we need people of integrity who are in power. She’s wondering if this group can be in touch with the new promoter of justice and get him involved. She asked if the bishops are concerned that half a million Catholics have left the Church in Germany and millions in the U.S.? And for those of us who have children and grandchildren, they have walked away from the Church and the hierarchy seems to have no concern.
Thomas replied that we need voices of faith, more people who can speak the language of the Gospel. We need canon law in a more balanced way to transform the weak and find their place in the Church. Of those who left in Germany, 90% are in a struggle with the Church. Because of this, he sees absolute necessity to support reform concepts.
Rene Reid (US) said her bishop was one of the fifty who wrote a letter to the German Synodal Path. And that group of bishops control the US Conference of Bishops – so much so that they wouldn’t even allow synodality to be on their bi-annual conference agenda. When we had Myriam Wijlens as a guest, I had the strong impression that, as a canon lawyer, her work with the Synod office is to rewrite canon 536 to make pastoral councils mandatory made up of the laity having a determinative voice. Is this likely to happen?
Thomas replied that, in his eyes, canon law is part of the problem and not the solution. We have to change canon law and it is possible. We need this network supporting reform and coalition building of those bishops in favor of reform.
Luca Bandini (UK/Italy) said, following on that question, we have the Federal Synodal Council that is going to be implemented in Germany. Since the Church happens at the grassroots level, it should be a priority that canon law be amended to make parish and diocesan councils mandated, determinative, and representative of the parish. After listening to Myriam Wijlens and Raphael Luciani, he heard them say that changing canon law is good but without a change in mentality, bishops can still get around the law. Luca would be deeply disappointed if at least this much change in canon law didn’t come out as part of keeping the spirit of synodality.
Thomas replied that the local level is the most important. In Germany, they are determined to have that level of participation of the laity. Yes, we need a change in mentality but first we need a change in canon law to fill the gap of participation of the laity in decision-making.
Colm Holmes (Ireland) said that Pope Francis has said many times that he wants to change the Church from a pyramidal structure to an inverted pyramid. It would be good to have the people able to select their bishop. Now this decision is made at the recommendation of the Apostolic Nuncio and ultimately by Rome. The people have no say. When Germany came up with the concept of having a cathedral chapter make up more of an ecclesial structure of ten bishops and ten laity making this decision together, Rome strongly opposed this. If we could have bishops chosen who are more representative of the diocese, this would have a strong effect. Is there hope along this route?
Thomas replied that participatory election is very important but one of the key obstacles. If lay people can make decisions about the financial affairs of the parish as they are now, why not pastoral as well? In Germany, we now have three processes for electing our bishops. In every case, the lay people are a part of the process. This could be a role model for other countries but, ultimately, this is a decision of Rome. If they care about the participation of the laity in this, then they are free to present orders to this effect.
Colm pointed out that recently in China, the government chose the bishop and Francis agreed to that.
Luca thanked Thomas for giving us so much depth and wisdom in all that he shared and for the level of conversation from the CCRI members. Rene added her gratitude and invited all who wanted to stay on to discern about the working document of the Synod: what you love, what needs to be emphasized, and what if anything is missing.
Jim McCarville said that those who participated in synodal sessions sound almost of one mind, yet they are less than 2% of Catholics worldwide. A discussion followed showing concern for this knowing that a good part of that percentage intentionally boycotted the synodal process. We have a tremendous ladder to climb to get up to even 20-30%.
Discussion of what we loved about the working document for the October Synod in Rome and what if anything should receive greater emphasis or has been completely left out
Peter Johnstone (Australia) was impressed with the document overall, particularly with good governance, the need for fundamental structures, cultural changes, and rejection of clericalism. But one of the issues underplayed is one of the greatest injustices in the Church, i.e., the equality of women. Good decisions will not be made until there is gender balance. Women should be open to every role and ministry in the Church. Marie Sobolewski (Australia) added that nothing is said about women in the section under ministry but is only mentioned as an addendum regarding deaconship. Luca Bandini (UK/Italy) pointed out that since the vast majority of the German Synodal Path agree with this statement, they should at least move forward with having women priests all the way up to and including the level of bishops. When any part of the world has most in favor of something, they should simply move forward and implement it. This is the basic principle of subsidiarity.
Margaret Mary Moore (US) said leadership is a fundamental problem in the Church. We need leadership with integrity and utilizing Gospel value. Leadership currently has no moral compass. Along with wanting new structures, we need to focus on the quality of leadership. In the US, our current leadership wants to block all avenues to synodality. Luca said Colm Holm’s discussion about people participating in the election of bishops would help this. Jim McCarville said in the US, we’d have to worry about the people electing MAGA bishops (in the image of Donald Trump). Luca said it depends on which country you’re living in. In east London, a town called Stratford does elect their own bishops. Jim Mc said while he fully supports our involvement in electing our bishops, he has a fear. Our democracy in the US is not working well currently. Realistically, we must build this in to the concerns we’re addressing here. Picking up on Luca’s earlier comment about the hierarchy supporting democracy in society but resistant to it in the Church, Maree Sobolewski (Australia) said Pope Benedict defined democracy as “the protection of human dignity.” Pope John Paul II said: “Any political regime must be measured by its ability to protect human dignity, which means living in both freedom and truth.”
Peter Johnstone wanted to add another positive note. Ten years ago, none of us could have imagined these issues named in the Instrumentum Laboris being raised. Whether it’s 2% or more, these are the results of contributions of people throughout the world. We should take great comfort from this. But the key missing item is the equality of women in the Church. And until this matter is addressed and the bishops challenged on this, the Church is stuck. This will improve the governance of the Church. It is not enough to address improving the role of women. Women must be treated as equals. Rene thanked Peter and Colm for being two of the most outspoken men on the equality of women. Margaret Mary pointed out that education of the laity would go far to help improve their participation in governance.
Jerry Brohl (US) said so much of the frustration of reformers rests in the inability of the hierarchy to be responsive (even unwilling to listen) to their requests. Pope Francis has raised hopes and expectations, but he still has a worldwide hierarchy to deal with. His question is: At the end of 2024, will we be any better off as reformers than we are today? Will it be the same as the expectations raised in the Amazonian Synod only to be put off for the time. He feels the Church just doesn’t have the will to assume the leadership necessary to move this institution forward. It is only going to happen when segments of the world undertake certain aspects of reform and begin just doing them as the German Synodal Path has done. With a background as a priest and in science, Geoff (Australia) is concerned that the relevance of the Church among young people has become obsolete and until the Church becomes connected with modern science, quantum entanglements, evolution, and consciousness, along with Peter’s issue about women, he doesn’t see a way forward.
Rene Reid (US) mentioned that she’d like to see more emphasis given to Small Christian Communities. They should be recognized as an official part of Church structure coming just under parishes.
As we closed this dialogue, comments were made complimenting Pope Francis on making the Synod in Rome truly synodal by ensuring that both traditional and progressive bishops were included.
Respectfully submitted,
Rene Reid, CCRI director
