Diocese of Bolzano-Bressanone demonstrates ‘courage to look, courage to act’ Sabine Kleyboldt (KNA) It was the first time that he had quoted a Pope when presenting a study on abuse, said lawyer Ulrich Wastl on Monday: Francis had said on sexualised violence that “every single case is one too many” for the Church. Words…
Caritas Italiana worker in Aleppo and member of the Focolare movement Davide Chiarot spoke to The Synodal Times Syria is experiencing a momentous moment. It is normal for the whole world to wonder about its future, whether it will be truly democratic and pluralist as the new leaders claim, or whether, as in the…
In tribute to John Wijngaards. who died last week, we republish this piece, still timely, written by him in January, 2023. Rest in Peace. As an 87 year-old Catholic priest and theologian I have worked for the Church for most of my life. Experience has taught me that old Mother Church needs to adopt…
A commentary by Jon Rosebank Practised with humility,” write the bishops in their final document from the 2024 Assembly (47), “the synodal style enables the Church to be a prophetic voice in today’s world.” We live, they write, “in an age marked by ever-increasing inequalities” and by “disenchantment with the functioning of democracy.” Students of…
Luca Attanasio speaks with the theologian and lecturer “The Church is a woman,’ Pope Francis had said exactly one year ago in his audience to members of the International Theological Commission. “And one of the great sins we have had,” he had added, “is ‘masculinising’ the Church. In a concrete attempt to reduce the prevailing…
KNA Archbishop Scicluna of Malta has warned against using the methods of the World Synod’s spiritual dialogue – an alternation of speaking and meditation without direct discussion – everywhere in the Church: “If, for example, I have to deal with financial experts for the audit of the Archdiocese of Malta, I don’t need to have…
Letter from Asia Nirmala Carvalho (CRUX) According to Japanese Cardinal-elect Tarcisio Isao Kikuchi of Tokyo, the political situation in Myanmar “is still not stable,” when marking Myanmar Day on November 17. Bishop Celso Ba Shwe of Loikaw was present at the event. He had to abandon his cathedral in Kayah State due to the fighting…
Justin McLellan (CNS) Doubling down on the centrality of synodality in the Catholic Church, Pope Francis said that it is now up to local churches to accept and implement proposals from the final document approved the Synod of Bishops on synodality. Approved by the Pope, the synod’s final document “participates in the ordinary magisterium…
US bishops: Synodality requires conversion of heart more than new structuresJonathan Liedl Promoting synodality in the United States depends more on a conversion of heart than on the creation of new structures, the US bishops emphasised at their fall assembly in Baltimore. “It’s about cultural change, not necessarily structural change or not necessarily canonical…
Bishop Michael Router The recent synod entitled For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation and Mission, which came to a conclusion on October 27, led the Church through three years of reflection and discernment. Its final document outlines a blueprint for action that will help all of us who are baptised to take responsibility for…