Disappointing makeup of Synod of Bishops on the family

Friday, September 12th, 2014

The list of those attending the Synod of Bishops on the family is a disappointment to those hoping for reform of the Curia and for those who hope that the laity will be heard at the synod.

The appointment of 25 curial officials to the synod on the family is a sign that Pope Francis still does not understand what real reform of the Roman Curia requires.

It makes me fear that when all is said and done, he may close or merge some offices, rearrange some responsibilities, but not really shake things up.

According to current law, moto proprio Apostolica Sollicitudo, an extraordinary synod is made up of major episcopal leaders of the Eastern Catholic churches, presidents of episcopal conferences, and three religious chosen by the Union of Superiors General.

It also states, “The cardinals who head offices of the Roman Curia will also attend.”

The pope may also appoint additional bishops and clerical and lay observers.

Having curial officials as members of a synod fails to recognize that they should be staff, not policymakers.

They could attend the synod as staff but should not be voting members.

For the most part, they should be observers and not speakers.

They have all the other weeks of the year to advise the pope.

This is the time for bishops from outside of Rome to make their views known.

If Francis and the Council of Cardinals is not willing to change the makeup of the Synod of Bishops, it is hard to believe they will really fix the Roman Curia.

The American prelates at the synod will be Louisville, Ky., Archbishop Joseph Kurtz and Cardinals Timothy Dolan, Donald Wuerl, and Raymond Burke.

Kurtz is attending because he is president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Dolan and Wuerl will attend as members of the council of the ordinary synod.

And Burke attends because he is prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura. Continue reading

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