Fear that the topic of Women’s Equality will be brushed aside indefinitely
Today is the official opening of the 2024 Synod. There is no doubt that Women’s Equality is on the minds and in the hearts of the vast majority of concerned Catholics around the world. And the fear of this critical issue being brushed aside deepens given that this topic has been completely removed from the agenda of this Synod and turned over to a committee whose names have been kept secret. This is seen as a serious lack of transparency.
Just on the other side of the Vatican wall (and when dared in St. Peter’s Square), women’s equality will undoubtedly be the number 1 hoped-for and prayed-for issue by all involved in the reform community and those who are passionate enough about this issue to have given of themselves to be present. One concered Catholic has spent the past three months researching and writing about this issue and has requested that it be shared with Cardinal Grech and all the delegates.
You are invited to take a quiet moment when there are no distractions around you to read her article.
Our prayers from around the world are with you. Our deepest prayer is the the Spirit will be expressing herself through your voices and that you have the courage to speak up about those issues you feel and beleive so strongly.
Agenda Priorities for 2nd Assembly of the Synod on Synodality
To the Synod Delegates:
CCRI wishes to expand on its views submitted in May 2024 on the agenda items for the Second Session of the Synod on Synodality. The most significant feature of this report is that it was truly a consensus of cross-generational, cross-continental, and, of course, cross-cultural reflections of Catholics, both practicing and no longer practicing. It is the epitome of what Pope Francis was seeking in many ways. That submission responded to the directions approved by the 1st Assembly of the Ordinary Council of the General Secretariat of the Synod in “HOW can we be a synodal Church on mission? This submission is focused more specifically on items that should in our view be prioritized on the 2nd Session Agenda
The “Instrumentum laboris” for the Second Session of the 16th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops (October 2024) was released in July and provides the framework for the Second Session agenda. We are concerned that the Instrumentum Laboris, while providing a valuable analysis of issues, does not seem to adequately address the priorities identified in CCRI’s submission of May 2024. It would seem that the agenda for the 2nd Session will also be inadequate in some important regards.
We note in particular that the Instrumentum Laboris section on women speaks eloquently of the Church’s commitment to the equality of women whilst reducing the practical issues to the possibility of women deacons and then defers proper consideration of that minor question. There is no mention of the shameful exclusion of women from governance and ministry (canons 1024, 129, 274 §1, and 767 §1), matters that demand consideration if the concept of synodality is to be respected.
Associated with that failure is the failure to identify the discriminatory and non-synodal nature of Church governance as male autocracy, a form of governance lacking inclusion and accountability and denying the Church the God-given gifts of women in its highest and most significant decisions. Further, the Instrumentum Laboris only mentions the scandal of clerical child sexual abuse and the resultant “loss of credibility” without addressing the shameful global cover-up and the resultant need for reform.
We believe that this proposed agenda below would ensure that the Synod is able to respond in a truly synodal manner to the critical issues facing our Church, the priorities identified by the People of the Church worldwide. We ask that all Synod delegates consider this proposed agenda and then ensure the adoption of an agenda that truly reflects the critical issues facing our Church as identified in our earlier submission of May 2024. We believe that this is appropriate to that purpose.
Proposed Considerations for Second Assembly
of the Synod on Synodality
OUR GOD-GIVEN MISSION
i. Our Church’s failure to be “a missionary Church capable of transforming everything” as noted in Evangelii Gaudium
ii. The Church’s loss of trust, credibility, and relevance amongst the faithful and in dialogue with the wider world
iii. Massive alienation of Catholics, particularly young people, from the Church in many countries
iv. Dysfunctional Church governance as shown by clerical sexual abuse and particularly the global cover-up and protection of paedophiles and exposure of further children to their abuse
v. Considerable financial malpractice and numerous bankruptcies in the Church
vi. Many bishops’ lack of moral authority, pastoral legitimacy, commitment to synodality, and listening to the sensus fidei fidelium
EQUALITY OF ALL, ENSURING GENDER DIVERSITY IN GOVERNANCE AND MINISTRY – REJECTING MALE CLERICAL AUTOCRACY
i. Male clerical autocracy is neither theologically nor biblically based on clear teachings of Jesus, is anti-synodal, reflecting past cultural practices now exposed as inadequate and discriminatory.
ii. Male autocracy is damaging to institutional decision-making and efficacy, and denies the Church the God-given gifts of the female gender.
iii. Critical issue of women’s equality in leadership roles within the Church is still being approached as a matter for analysis and study as opposed to being viewed as a matter for immediate action.
iv. Consideration of women deacons is welcome but inadequate.
v. The exclusion of women from Church ministry (c. 1024) and Church governance (cc.129 and 274§1), and from preaching the homily (c.767§1), deprives the Church of the benefits of gender diversity and balance in leadership, as well as being contrary to the inclusivity of Jesus’ teachings.
vi. Dissonance between “accepting” LGBTIQA+ and judging them as “intrinsically disordered”
vii. Ongoing failure to regard priestly celibacy as optional (cf. 23 eastern rites).
SYNODAL STRUCTURES AND PRACTICES AT EVERY LEVEL OF THE CHURCH
i. Church’s lack of a synodal approach in its structures, devaluing the sensus fidei fidelium, and prejudicing the Church’s efficacy.
ii. Widespread active resistance of many bishops to the call to synodality.
iii. Many bishops appoint as delegates to synodal structures only those who align ideologically with them.
iv. Many dioceses lack diocesan pastoral councils despite the default provision of canon 511.
v. The current male governance and leadership model adopted by bishops is autocratic and the antithesis of synodality.
vi. “Shortage of priests” caused by current institutional restrictions is creating Eucharistic famine in parts of the world.
vii. Parish pastoral councils, although provided for, are not required by canon law.
viii. Finance Committees often operate independently of the Pastoral Council.
ix. The faithful are inadequately involved in diocesan and parish administration.
x. Liturgies are often overly stereotyped with language much too formal and exclusive.
xi. The essential nature of Small Christian communities is inadequately recognized in the Church.
CLERICALISM TO BE ERADICATED
i. Clericalism is a social sin rooted in a medieval mindset reinforced by the structure of the Church and male autocracy.
ii. Clericalist attitudes reinforced by clergy’s pressure/incentive and silent complicity of laity conditioned over centuries.
iii. Clericalism leads to a massive loss of talent that could build up the Body of Christ.
iv. The concept of a presbyter as ontologically different is a catalyst for clericalism, the antithesis of synodality.
v. The baptismal call of “Priesthood of the faithful” is ignored in the current structure of the Church.
ENCULTURATE SYNODALITY (1-4 ABOVE) THROUGHOUT THE CHURCH AND REINFORCE THE SENSUS FIDELIUM
i. Effective Church reform requires a shared culture of synodality, valuing cultural diversity, rejecting male autocracy.
ii. The actions in 1-4 above will require both decrees and synodal programs of learning throughout the Church from Small Christian Communities to parishes to dioceses, all the way to the Vatican in accord with Pope Francis’s example.
Synod on Synodality needs to set its own agenda
You are invited to read Fr. Tom Reese’s article encouraging delegates to set their own agenda for the 2024 Synod as was done at Vatican II. Click here to read.
While we understand the intention of the Synod planners is to first get synodality functioning in local Church Communities, that is, get the people in each parish or Small Christian Community actually assuming co-responsibility for their Church community, and when this begins to happen, they believe the rest of the reforms needed in our Church will naturally flow from that. But even if this were achieved, there are still far too many bishops and pastors who are not prepared to be servant leaders. They simply will not relinquish therir authority nor even consider sharing it with the people they are there to serve. It is our hope that you, our represenatives at this Synod, will speak up and set your own agenda as the participants of Vatican II did.
Whatever you decide, we pray for the Spirit to truly be the protagonist at this gathering and that She will find her voice through each of you. Many of us will be in Rome in October and hope we may have an opportunity to meet some of you.
With a commitment of continued prayers for you, for Pope Francis, and for all who are present to guide this event.
Rene Reid,
CCRI director