Author: Deb Rose
A Study of Synodality
Read Chapters 1 – 4
According to Prof. Luciani, We are experiencing a crisis in the transformation of faith because we are still mired in a clerical institutional model.
As he notes, Yves Congar was one of the giants at the Second Vatican Council who understood most clearly that the clericalist institutional church desperately needed reforming. And Pope Francis has made overcoming it a cornerstone of his papacy saying to priests, “Clericalism is a true perversion in the Church…Clericalism condemns, separates, frustrates, and despises the people of God.”
Synodality is the re-structuring principle that transforms the Church from a Western, monocultural Church, centered on Rome and its primacy, to a global and intercultural Church, opening the way to recognize the authority of the local church.
Additional Media
- A Non traditional Blessing by Ruth Fox, OSB (Closing prayer)
- Sr. Donna Ciangio’s Presentation
- FC Powerpoint Presentation for Synodality Study Session 1 – Chapters 1 – 4
- Response of participants to Study Session 1
- Discernment (book recommended by Sr. Donna) by Ladislas Orsy
Session Two: Synodality and the People of God
Read Chapters 5 – 8
The Second Vatican Council reinscribed the centrality of the church as thee “People of God.” Cardinal Leo Joseph Suenens, the principal architect of Lumen Gentium, described it as a rediscovery of the people of God as a whole, as a single reality” with each member of the church sharing co-responsibility for the life and work of the Church.
However, in the 1980s the blossoming of this newfound way of being was thwarted by a pope who, once again, emphasized the primacy of the hierarchy subordinating the “sense of the faithful.” Regressive policies and teachings undercut the reformist principles of Vatican II.
With his constant emphasis on synodality, Pope Francis wants to make take the church forward making this exercise of authority as the work of the entire People of God a constitutive ecclesial dimension and way of proceeding for this third millennium.
FC Powerpoint for Chapters 5 – 8
Kelly Meraw’s synod resources (click below)
Session Three: Synodality and the Local Churches
Read Chapters 9, 10, & Conclusion
Although, under the papacy of John Paul II, there was a progressive deflation of the value of the local church as normative for interpreting tradition, theology, and faith, Pope Francis has emphasized that we become a “listening church” so that the People of God can be heard in their ” particular place and time” in order to know what the Spirit is saying and how to proceed.
In order to allow the Spirit to move us into this new phase of synodality, we must move into a new creative phase of receiving and implementing the Second Vatican Council.
How will this principle translate into new realities? That is the work we are undertaking today!
The video for this session will not be posted here at the request of our speaker. It has been sent to all the participants signed up for this study. To learn more contact debrose@futurechurch.org.
FC Powerpoint for Synodality Book Study Part III, Chapters 9, 10 & conclusion
Synodality study – Participant responses to what they learned
Synod Synthesis a Significant Step Toward Authentic Expression of U.S. Catholics’ Concerns and Hopes
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Deborah Rose, Co-Director of FutureChurch, debrose@futurechurch.org , 513.673.1401
Russ Petrus, Co-Director of FutureChurch, russ@futurechurch.org, 216.228.0869 x 2
The National Synod Synthesis released by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) on September 19th represents a significant step toward advancing the promise of Vatican II. The synthesis goes a long way in capturing an authentic expression of the faithful – their concerns, joys, sorrows, and hopes for a church where Gospel values of justice, equality, inclusivity, care for the marginalized, and care for creation, and more – are core to its mission.
“That the concerns and hopes of the nearly 600 faith-filled Catholics who participated in FutureChurch’s synod sessions during Lent were also reflected in the National Synthesis is a hopeful sign,” said Todd Ray, Chair of the FutureChurch Board. “The inclusion of Catholic voices who have long been marginalized or dismissed by popes, bishops and other church leaders is a positive sign that synodality — a new way of sharing authority, ministry, and decision making — is unfolding in our time,” he said.
The Rome-bound document synthesized 290 reports received from 179 dioceses, other offices, and 112 Catholic organizations and associations. Sixteen regions were formed to make the reporting task manageable with fifteen representing dioceses and eparchies. To capture the voices of Catholics who participated through Catholic organizations like FutureChurch and other associations and national ministries, a sixteenth region was created.
“It is both refreshing and hopeful to see this good faith effort by the U.S. Synod writing team to reflect the voices of faithful Catholics who have long worked for a more just and inclusive church,” commented Deborah Rose, Co-Director of FutureChurch. “There was transparency in reporting Catholic concerns about the ravages of clergy sex abuse; the need for fully incorporating women in ordained ministry, preaching, and governance; racial and indigenous justice; LGBTQ+ inclusion; and a host of other issues that have been sidelined or ignored for too long.” Rose also noted the importance of the inclusion of the preferred acronym, LGBTQ+, a sign of respect that was denied at the 2018 Synod on Youth when bishops stripped it from the final document.
“The National Synthesis is hopeful precisely because it fairly represents the prophetic voices of the People of God and not the doctrinaire rigidity and clericalism that we have consistently experienced at the hands of many U.S. bishops,” said Russ Petrus, Co-Director of FutureChurch. “This initial step must be followed by additional concrete efforts to form and empower all Catholics to actualize this new, synodal way of being and doing Church where all have a share in discernment, leadership, and ministry.”
FutureChurch continues to create opportunities for Catholics to enter more fully and confidently into this new co-responsible way of discerning the future of our church. Those who are interested can join our three-part study on synodality beginning Tuesday, October 4th at 12noon ET by signing up at https://futurechurch.org/events/synodality-book-study/. Catholics can also learn more about synodality as a new way of being Church from renowned Synod consultant, Rafael Luciani by signing up for our Fall Event on November 10, 2022 at 8:00pm ET at https://futurechurch.org/events/2022-fall-event-night-two/. To read report we sent to Rome and to our bishops of our synod process which includes an appendix with all the participant responses go to https://futurechurch.org/justice-in-the-church/synod-report/.
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Will Asian Bishops Return Home a Different Way?
As the reports of the group, FutureChurch, clearly indicate, young people and women are leaving the Church in droves, put off both by its deeply flawed teachings rejected by the sensus fidelium (sense of the faith), and by the patriarchal dominance of the hierarchy which excludes women from all significant administrative and ministerial roles.
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For as the lay group, FutureChurch, has indicated, dysfunctional governance is the single most important malaise in the Catholic Church everywhere. Far too many bishops see their roles as autocratic in nature and seek little or no engagement with the people in their dioceses.
President Mark R. Nemec, PhD, Honored by Brooklyn Jesuit Prep
(FutureChurch’s Commissioned Art for Women Witnesses for Racial Justice Art by Chloe Becker is featured)
Dr. Nemec received the Thea Bowman Award for Education for his leadership and Fairfield University’s commitment to raising the level of educational access and achievement for underrepresented students.
Fairfield University President Mark R. Nemec, PhD, was honored at the 2022 Brooklyn Jesuit Prep Gala and Celebration on May 11. Dr. Nemec received the Thea Bowman Award for Education, which is conferred upon an individual who demonstrates Sister Thea Bowman’s belief in the transformative power of education to bring about a more compassionate, multi-cultural community of justice and faith.
The granddaughter of a slave, Sister Bowman was a lifelong educator and founder of the Institute for Black Catholic Studies at Xavier University and the National Black Sisters Conference. Her mission centered around intercultural awareness and building up the Black Catholic community, sharing its rich cultural and spiritual heritage through prayer, music, writing, teaching, and preaching.
Senior leadership from Fairfield University and Fairfield Prep were among those who attended the event at the New York Athletic Club in New York City. Dr. Nemec was introduced by Brooklyn Jesuit Prep Class of 2009 alumnus and trustee Chris Ferreira, who presented the award with President Rev. Mario Powell, S.J., and Chairman of the Board of Trustees Christian Johnson.
Has Pope Francis Finally Reformed the Catholic Church?
National Catholic Reporter’s Joshua McElwee talks about Pope Francis’ latest reform, “Praedicate Evangelium,” and its potential impact on the future of the Catholic Church.