"Ideas of Value Always Shun Verbosity"

A commentary (yes another one) on the Synod on Synodality.

Synod on Synodality

A Meeting About Meetings?

Like many commentators, I’ve been joking about the Synod on Synodality being a “meeting about meetings.” As it turns out…that’s exactly what it was.

The summary document was just released. This was agreed on by a majority number at the Synod, and will be prayed and discerned over for the next year, when they meet again to finalize their recommendations to the Holy Father.

A few things stood out to me as I slogged through the 42 page document.

First, It was as if writers had been given a word count they must reach, with bonus points for certain words. For instance, “listen” or “listening” was mentioned on 23 of the 42 pages. I cannot overemphasize this: There were many, many, unnecessary words. (ie: an entire passage about sitting at round tables which somehow symbolizes a “listening Church.” This prompted me to ask my husband if our rectangular dining room table was the reason he doesn’t seem to hear me sometimes. For some reason he didn’t think it was funny.)

Anyway, reading this document put me in mind of this quote from Byzantine Saint Diadochos of Photiki, “Ideas of value always shun verbosity, being foreign to confusion and fantasy. Timely silence, then, is precious, for it is nothing less than the mother of the wisest thoughts.”

Secondly, the point didn’t seem to be the supposed discussion topics at all. There were almost no clear suggestions or directions given. Instead, the point, it seems, was to reform the way we make decisions as a Church.

Council of Trent

What Even is a Synod?

Before we jump into the actual document, I think it might be helpful to do a quick summary of what a synod is, and is not. This information is taken from an article by Canon Lawyer David Salvato, writing for Catholic World Report.

Synods and councils used to be used somewhat synonymously. However, Pope Paul IV clarified a difference in 1965. A synod is primarily consultative, and not juridical. He wrote that a synod was an “efficacious collaboration” with the Pope.

Infallible Teaching

There are, in fact, just three ways that the Church can pronounce infallible teaching. None of them are a synod. Oh, and by the way, the Pope’s random thoughts? Also NOT infallible. So what are those ways?

1. Through the College of Bishops spread throughout the world (when the Pope, having consulted all bishops' opinions regarding a topic, declares a particular dogma; for instance when Pope Pius XII declared the corporeal Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary as a dogma of the Faith in 1950)

2. In an Ecumenical Council (in which the entirety of the College of Bishops, with and under the Pope, is present)

3. When the Pope speaks ex cathedra (extremely rare.)

Canon law goes on to explain that a synod could not exist without a Pope, which draws attention to his necessary authority, and final say. I also think it’s helpful to note, the College of Bishops is ALWAYS in existence, if not always called upon. A Synod of Bishops must be called into existence, and is, put simply, consultative.

Primary Functions of a Synod

Canon law also makes clear the three primary functions of a synod.

1. To promote union between the Roman Pontiff and the Bishops.

2. So that the Bishops, with their counsel, can provide assistance to the Roman Pontiff in order to safeguard the Faith and morals in the observance and reinforcement of ecclesiastical discipline.

3. To study problems regarding the Church in the world.

The Synod Summary

Ok, back to the summary that was just released. I did my darnedest to give it a chance. I really did. I’m no theologian, but I was only able to find three short passages that seemed to reaffirm Church teaching in a way that’s relevant and needed in our modern world. I’ll give those examples first!

First, the Good.

1. Under a section on the poor, where many groups considered to be vulnerable people were named, they wrote, “The most vulnerable of the vulnerable, on whose behalf constant advocacy is needed, are babies in the womb and their mothers.”

2. There was much discussion on so called “women’s issues,” and in those pages it was clearly stated that we were created male and female, different but equal. Strangely, that is something that needs to be said today.

3. Finally, there was a note made about not selling out for government money. Slightly ironic since, in my opinion, that happens often, but that’s a topic for a different day. They wrote, “In particular, care must be taken to ensure that the use of public or private funds by Church structures does not condition the freedom to speak up for the demands of the Gospel.”

And Now, for the Concerning Parts.

1. Despite the hype, there was very little mention of the LGBTQ+ issues, except for this. “Some issues, such as those related to gender identity and sexual orientation, the end of life, difficult marital situations, and ethical issues related to artificial intelligence, are controversial not only in society but also in the Church because they raise new questions.” This probably goes without saying to my readers…but for the record, these issues are NOT new. In fact, sodomy is listed in the Bible as one of the few sins that cry out to Heaven for vengeance. It is always doing humans a disservice to pretend that sin is not sin, and we see the devastating results of the Church acting confused on these issues.

2. At the end, they snuck this very weird line in there, with no explanation (suddenly they were short on words!) “The Symposium of the Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar is encouraged to promote theological and pastoral discernment on the issue of polygamy and the accompaniment of people in polygamous unions coming to faith.”

3. When speaking about how Bishops are selected, they wrote, “The Assembly calls for a review of the criteria for selecting candidates for the episcopate, balancing the authority of the Apostolic Nuncio with the participation of the Bishops' Conference. It also calls for broadening the consultation of the People of God, listening to a greater number of laymen and women, consecrated men and women, and taking care to avoid inappropriate pressures.”

4. Although seemingly promoting the laity’s input on choosing bishops, they also caution against a “clericalizing of the laity.” At the same time, they state, “There is a perceived need for more creativity in establishing ministries according to the needs of local churches, with special involvement of young people. One can think of further expanding the tasks to the established ministry of the lector, which are already not limited to the role played during liturgies. In this way, a true ministry of the Word of God could be set up, which in appropriate contexts could also include preaching.” Ok so, yes to choosing bishops and preaching, but no to clericalizing. Got it. Kind of.

5. There is, of course, a push for climate awareness saying, “the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor are the same cry. The lack of response makes the ecological crisis and climate change in particular a threat to humanity's survival, as the apostolic exhortation Laudate Deum, published by Pope Francis to coincide with the opening of the work of the Synodal Assembly, points out.” Is it any wonder that the secular world is giving bodies of water human rights, when the Church equates the earth and the poor?

6. What appears to be a concerning call for further discernment on who can receive the Eucharist says, “The issue of Eucharistic hospitality (communicatio in sacris) should be further examined from the theological, canonical and pastoral perspectives in light of the link between sacramental and ecclesial communion. This issue is particularly felt by interfaith couples. It also points to a broader reflection on mixed marriages.”

7. The section on women has a few things I didn’t love, but in particular, it leaves the door open to a female diaconate. “Different positions have been expressed regarding women's access to diaconal ministry. Some consider that this step would be unacceptable as it would be in discontinuity with Tradition. For others, however, granting women access to the diaconate would restore a practice of the early Church. Still others discern in this step an appropriate and necessary response to the signs of the times, faithful to Tradition and capable of finding an echo in the hearts of many who seek renewed vitality and energy in the Church. Some express fear that this request is an expression of a dangerous anthropological confusion, embracing which the Church would align itself with the spirit of the times.”

8. In the same section, that of women’s issues, they write, “There is an urgent need to ensure that women can participate in decision-making processes and assume roles of responsibility in pastoral care and ministry. The Holy Father has significantly increased the number of women in positions of responsibility in the Roman Curia. The same should happen at other levels of Church life. Canon law should be adapted accordingly.” Wait. We’re adapting canon law to assuage feelings now? Yikes.

At the Risk of Hitting a Higher Word Count Than They Did…

I’ll stop now. You get the idea. Plenty to be concerned about with the promise of “further discussion and discernment” of all of these issues. Speaking of words, I want to say a quick note about the word “pastoral.” Which, by the way, was used 42 times in this document.

It has quickly become one of my least favorite words, seeming to be a catch all for just being nice to everybody. And yet, our clergy IS called to be pastoral, in the truest sense of the word instead of its wide misuse today. How can we see what it means to be pastoral? Well, it seems as though looking to the ultimate pastor would help.

Jesus says things such as,

• “Depart from me…into the eternal fire” (Matthew 25:41)

• “Be perfect” (Matthew 5:48)

• “Your sins are forgiven” (Luke 7:48)

• “Be merciful” (Luke 6:36)

Even in this very small sample, it is clear that his approach widely varies, is situationally dependent, and certainly does not fit into the modern use of the word pastoral. He literally created us because He wanted us to be happy with him in Heaven. Do you think he would tell us what we want to hear and risk our souls??

Fr. Charles Fox, STD wrote, “This is the mission to which all of the Church’s faithful pastors dedicate themselves. They strive  to preach and teach about the “narrow way” that leads to heaven with great charity and precision. They do not make the narrow way broad, but they also do not shut its gate. They provide a kind of traveler’s guidebook, laying-out the landscape of the Christian life with all of its opportunities and dangers.”

His Eminence Raymond Leo Cardinal Burke

It’s Not the End, and it’s Not Nothing

Depending on who you listen to, you’ll pretty much get one of these two answers. On a scale of Taylor Marshall to “Fr.” James Martin, I land somewhere in between on this one.

I’m concerned that the point of the synod, was the synod. I’m concerned that those in leadership positions within the synod haven’t hidden the ball, being quoted as saying that this was just the foundation for changing some long held truths of the Church in the long term.

On the other hand, I’m very much not concerned that the Church will disappear. The Church that Jesus founded WILL prevail, as it has done through so many heresies and bad leaders. We the laity do have a responsibility to do our part. So what now?

I’m really not a cryer. Really. But I’ve rarely read something that Cardinal Burke has written that I haven’t teared up over. While only human, and flawed as we all are, he has taken, and continues to take, many arrows for Christ, while remaining humble and holy. Then, he in turn calls us, his spiritual children, to something greater. He calls us to the narrow way.

Ok, you might have gathered this, but he’s a personal hero of mine. So much so, in fact, I named my son after him (along with St. Leo the Great.)

He recently gave a speech entitled, Synodality versus True Identity of the Church as Hierarchical Communion. The entire thing is incredible, and well worth the read. I want to close with this excerpt, because I believe it sums up perfectly where we go from here:

Today good Christians must be prepared to suffer the white martyrdom of misunderstanding, rejection, and persecution, and sometimes the red martyrdom of the shedding of blood, in order to be faithful witnesses of Christ, His “fellow workers in the truth.”[26]

Although the current confusion is particularly great, even historically significant not to say unprecedented, we cannot believe that the situation is irreversible. As I have just mentioned, the gates of hell will not prevail against the Church. The Lord has promised to remain with us in the Church " to the close of the age."[27] He does not lie. He is always faithful to His promises. We can always trust the Lord living for us in the Church.

And certainly we must never forsake the Lord but remain with Him in the Church which is His Mystical Body. We must always remain branches surely inserted into the Vine which is the Lord. However, we are forced to see that many souls take the road to perdition because of this confusion, so we must pray much and act to dispel it as soon as possible.

Prayer for priests by St. John Vianney, patron saint of priests.

God, please give to your Church today
many more priests after your own heart.
May they be worthy representatives of Christ the Good Shepherd.
May they wholeheartedly devote themselves to prayer and penance;
be examples of humility and poverty;
shining models of holiness;
tireless and powerful preachers of the Word of God;
zealous dispensers of your grace in the sacraments.
May their loving devotion to your Son Jesus in the Eucharist
and to Mary his Mother
be the twin fountains of fruitfulness for their ministry.

Amen.