My first synod was in 1985, when Pope John Paul II called an extraordinary synod to reflect on the Second Vatican Council 20 years after it ended. I have covered almost every synod since. It has never been easy. Meetings of the synod are usually closed, and the information released to the press is carefully Read more
In a stunning revelation, it has been discovered that private deliberations at the Synod on Synodality have been accessible through an unsecured server. According to The Pillar news outlet, the records contain vital information. This includes rosters of synodal participants and their working group assignments. Reports filed by these working groups at the conclusion of the Read more
Addressing Spirit Unbounded, Pa Ropata McGowan from New Zealand said that humanity is not the master of the universe and that everything we have depends on the earth’s wellness. Organised by the International Reform Network, Spirit Unbounded is a virtual assembly running in parallel to the current Synod on Synodality, attracting participants from all over Read more
Speaking at the Synod on Synodality, Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich shared an introductory reflection on the “co-responsibility of the mission.” This is the subject of the third module, dedicated to section B2 of the Instrumentum laboris, or working document, which is being addressed starting today. B2 reads: “Co-responsibility in Mission: How can we better share gifts Read more
The ongoing synod on synodality is an opportunity for the church leadership to become more accountable towards sexual abuse cases, increase laity participation, and bring more transparency within the Catholic Church, says an expert. “A synodal Church is a listening Church… but it needs to go a step further: a synodal Church is an accountable Read more
Cherie Blair is challenging traditional Catholic teachings, calling on the Church to understand family needs more and open a debate on birth control. Blair is a barrister and women’s rights advocate. She spoke by video at a parallel Synod event, Spirit Unbounded, an assembly organised by the international reform network Blair began her speech praising Read more
The Vatican Synod assembly, a month-long event determining the Catholic Church’s future, kicked off on October 4. As the 364 attendees gathered at 35 round tables in the grand Paul VI Audience Hall, the initial three days were an intriguing mix of experimentation and camaraderie. “If we act like Jesus, we will testify to God’s Read more
In the days leading up to the Synod, which began last Wednesday, several synod retreat meditations were presented to those preparing to participate in the global meeting of bishops in Rome. One of the meditations focussed on the meaning of ‘Authority’ and another on ‘The Spirit of Truth’. Authority There can be no fruitful conversation Read more
No one knows for sure why Pope Francis chose to publish his responses to the dubia presented by five intransigent cardinals. My first thought was: Don’t swing at pitches in the dirt. And, it is tempting to observe that these dubious cardinals simply had it coming. Coming on the eve of the opening of the Read more
Vatican officials have clarified that media engagement during the Synod of Bishops is a personal decision, and those who choose to give interviews will face no punishment. The clarification followed a recent interview given by German Cardinal Gerhard Müller to EWTN, raising questions about Pope Francis’s call for a media ‘fast’. Italian layman Paolo Ruffini, Read more