Advocates for women’s ordination in the Catholic Church gathered in prayer and solidarity at the Basilica of St Praxedes in Rome during the historic Synod on Synodality. The Vatican has drawn the faithful from across the globe, including bishops and cardinals, for the month-long synod. The synod, arising from a comprehensive global consultation of Catholics, Read more
According to US Bishop Daniel Flores, October’s Synod on Synodality aims to address human reality – not abstractions. Flores (pictured) is a member of the global assembly’s preparatory commission. He says the Synod aims to share Christ and his Gospel more effectively. We can’t respond with the Gospel if we don’t know the reality people Read more
Recent allegations that a biased synod agenda working document favours a liberal plan are baseless and lack substance, says Massimo Faggioli. The working document (Instrumentum Laboris) for the Synod of Bishops, a result of a comprehensive process involving the participation of the entire church, is a testament to the church’s commitment to inclusivity and dialogue, Read more
On June 20, 2023, the Synod of Bishops published a synod working document to guide the first session of the Synod on the future of the Church, scheduled for October 2023. This “Instrumentum Laboris” (“instrument of work” in Latin), is intended to help the synodal assembly’s 370 members in their reflection. “Church,” “Synod” and “how” Read more
The Vatican has released a 50-page working document urging Roman Catholic bishops to engage in discussions regarding LGBTQ+ inclusion and the role of women within the church. The document, called Instrumentum Laboris (Latin for “working document”), is based on the input gathered from a two-year worldwide global synod, where Catholics were invited to share their Read more
Bazilian Cardinal Claudio Hummes clarified the working document’s purpose for the Synod of Bishops for the Amazon. It is is not official church teaching, he says. It is a way for bishops to listen to the local church’s concerns. The working document ( also called the Instrumentum Laboris) “isn’t a document of the synod, it Read more
A long-serving missionary bishop of the Amazon River delta says the Instrumentum laboris for October’s synod on the Amazon misses the problems faced by the Church in the region. “What is the Amazonian face? Can a synod next October of this magnitude be built with a presentation so far from reality, from identity, from respect Read more
A letter purporting to be from disgraced Australian cardinal George Pell to his supporters has been posted on Twitter. The full text of the letter dated 1 August was posted last Friday evening by the ‘Cardinal George Pell Supporters’ Twitter account. Prison authorities are investigating whether Pell broke Melbourne Assessment Prison rules by posting the Read more
The working document for October’s synod on the family has affirmed the need for the Church to speak its message of mercy more clearly. The Instrumentum Laboris was released by the Vatican on June 23. It includes portions of the final document from the 2014 synod and is also informed by responses from bishops’ conferences and others Read more
A Jesuit commentator says that the working document for October’s synod on the family reminds him of the build up to the family synod in 1980. Fr Thomas Reese said “for anyone familiar with the 1980 synod on the family, reading the new [document] fosters a feeling of déjà vu”. The same issues are discussed, the Read more