Synod Session 2, Part 7: Further Analysis and Responses

The Second Session Final Report: Further Analysis, Responses, and Summing Up

A huge thank you to parishioner Charlie Koop, who has provided this Synod coverage for us for the last two years!

A good place to start in summing up the Synod on Synodality is with the definition of Synodality given in the Final Report – “Synodality is a path of spiritual renewal and structural reform that enables the church to be more participatory and missionary, so that it can walk with every man and woman, radiating the light of Christ.” (Final Synod Report No. 28)

From this core focus, part 1 of the Final Report points to the baptismal call as foundational to the work of the Synod. “In baptism each one of us is called not just to membership in the church but to responsibility in the life of the church and responsibility, in part, for the mission of the church,” says Synod delegate Cardinal McElroy of San Diego in an interview with America on the day after the Synod ended. He also spoke about charisms, saying “Everyone receives charisms. . . specific calls and grace from God to contribute to the building up of Christ’s vision of what we are to be on this earth. And in the light of those charisms there are certain ministries we undertake to advance the life of the church. Some of them are formally recognized, some of them more loosely recognized, but they’re all meant to serve the people of God as a whole, and we are all called to enter into them at various moments in our lives.”

​From this foundation, the Final report moves in a discussion of Discernment in the Spirit and accountability – at all levels – parish, diocese, etc. “The emphasis in this is on discernment by a group of people who represent the community. . . And when they come to a decision, the pastor or the bishop makes [the decision] in light of their discernment, but then the pastor or bishop is also tasked with carrying it out, and that carrying out is part of the accountability, too. . . clericalism clouds that and gets in the way of that kind of accountability. . .the people of the parish, the people of the diocese, have a right to ask: ‘ What is happening to advance what we have decided on? What is going on in the life of our parish?’” – (Cardinal McElroy interview). Paragraph 91 in the Final Synod Report further says “that if those in authority, such as a bishop or parish priest, engage in consultation, they cannot simply dismiss the conclusions of that consultation at will, without providing a compelling reason for doing so.”

Beyond these overall areas, the Final Report addresses the important specific issue of the role of women in the church. Despite the sometimes contentious meetings during the Synod with Study Group 5, which was charged with studying this area, the Final Synod Report gave a much needed status update on this issue in Paragraph 60. This paragraph begins by recognizing that “women continue to encounter obstacles” in exercising roles of ministry or leadership in the church. Then, after presenting Scriptural and historical evidence of women’s roles in the church, it goes on to call for “full implementation” of all the possibilities for women’s ministry and leadership which are currently available, saying that “no reason or impediment” should prevent this, saying: “what comes from the Holy Spirit cannot be stopped.” It concludes by stating: “Additionally, the question of women’s access to diaconal ministry remains open. This discernment needs to continue.” Although this paragraph received the most “no” votes, it did get the required 2/3 vote to be incorporated in the Final Report. (A few observers have noted that some of the 97 “No” votes may have come from delegates who thought it did not go far enough.) It is also worth noting that Pope Francis, in signing and issuing the Final Synod Report, gave his approval of this statement as part of the official teaching magisterium of the church, despite any of his previous comments on these issues.

Another complex reality which the Final Report addresses is the distinction between Unity and Uniformity. In this connection, Synod delegate Fr. James Martin, S.J. reflected on his experience at the synod by noting that the members of his table group came as strangers from all over the world, but they came together for this Second Session as familiar faces and friends. He stated, “We had very different approaches to many pastoral issues, [It was] our roundtable conversations and our... ‘down time’ talk at the tables that most signaled the presence of the Holy Spirit to me. . . And Cardinal-elect Timothy Radcliffe, O.P. started our retreat by quoting St. John Paul II, ‘Affective collegiality precedes effective collegiality’ in other words, it is easier to speak about difficult topics with friends than with strangers.” And Sam Sawyer, S.J. states: “the synod is searching for unity while recognizing that the experience and judgement on these matters (marital situation, identity or sexuality) is not uniform across the church.” (America 10-28-24)

Summing up – Sawyer says “Some people will find that frustrating . . . after years of effort and consultation. But I found it a source of hope and a cause for gratitude. The complicated reality is where the church is, and where the Holy Spirit is at work. [The result] may look like a camel when we wanted a horse. Please God, it may also be able to walk across deserts where the horse would die of thirst.”

Thanks to all the faithful readers who have stuck with me through the two years of the Synod’s twists and turns. The story is far from over, but one thing is certain: love, prayer, forgiveness and listening to each other and to the Spirit will continue to be necessary going forward. The final question is “Is the all-too-human church up to the task?” We, or our children and grandchildren, will see.

By Charlie Koop, Parishioner

Click here to start from the beginning of our Synod Session 2 coverage, or click here to start from the very first Synod article from last October!