Dear Friends,
Our parishioners doing the “Fall Into Faith” Bible sharing sessions are having a greater understanding of the Word of God while experiencing true fellowship with one another. Some of them asked me a question about the Synod on Synodality. Many of us may or may not be aware that the Synodal process has been going on for the past three years and that it concluded last month – on October 26 in Rome.
Pope Francis is very passionate about restoring the church as the people of God. He wants the church to be a communion and not a corporation. So he initiated one of the most consultative processes in Church history, when he called for the Synodal journey in 2021, asking all the Catholics around the world to send their input to him through their respective dioceses, to be discussed in the assembly of delegates in Rome. Instead of the usual gathering of bishops, he included lay people in the synod for the first time with voting rights. Some critics of the synod (including priests, bishops and cardinals) did not agree with the pope’s vision as they accused him of democratizing or protestantising the Catholic Church which they claim must always be hierarchical. But Pope Francis aimed to balance traditional Church teaching with contemporary pastoral needs while promoting greater inclusivity and transparency in Church governance.
The 52 page Final Document, approved by 355 synod members in attendance, outlines substantial proposals for Church renewal, organized into five main sections and calls for five forms of conversion: spiritual, relational, procedural, institutional, and missionary. The document contains the following main proposals (condensed by Pierre-Alain Giffard):
Study Areas for Groups: The Synod encourages specialized groups to delve deeper into ten critical areas, such as the relationship between Eastern and Latin Churches, supporting the poor, and adapting mission efforts to the digital world, to better align Church life with modern challenges and synodal ideals.
Transparency and Accountability: The proposal emphasizes that transparency in Church governance, especially through public reports and audits, can help build trust and ensure the Church is responsibly managing resources, while also upholding values of inclusion and equality, such as balanced gender representation in decision-making bodies.
Empowering Episcopal Conferences: By strengthening the role of Episcopal Conferences, the Church can allow for more locally responsive doctrinal and pastoral care that respects cultural diversity, while still preserving the unity and integrity of the Catholic faith worldwide.
Inclusivity for People with Disabilities: This proposal suggests an Ecclesial Observatory on Disability, aiming to foster active involvement of individuals with disabilities, ensuring their unique contributions enrich Church life and outreach.
Strengthening Family and Marital Support: Recognizing families as vital contributors to the Church’s mission, this proposal advocates for networks that support families in pastoral roles, allowing them to actively participate in evangelization and service within their communities.
Promotion of Synodal Decision-Making: Encouraging synodal processes at all levels aims to make decision-making more inclusive and reflective of the broader Church community, fostering shared discernment and updating canon law to clearly define consultative and decision-making roles.
If these wonderful proposals are implemented, the Church will move from being a corporation to a communion of the people of God.
Your brother in Christ,
Fr. Abraham Orapankal