Limerick synod could lead to national Church assembly

First synod in over 70 years

News that the Diocese of Limerick is to hold a synod bringing together laypeople, priests and religious has raised hopes that a national assembly of the Church in Ireland may be the next step.

Bishop Brendan Leanhy has announced that Limerick will hold its first synod in over 70 years in 2016. Preparatory work to ensure that diverse voices are heard is getting underway in earnest.

Theologian Fr Gerry O’Hanlon SJ told The Irish Catholic “it would be a real sign of hope in our situation if we could envisage a national consultation.”

The Limerick synod will take place over three days and will bring together 400 delegates who will set out a path to enable the Church in Limerick meet the many challenges it faces in the future, Bishop Leahy told The Irish Catholic.

He warned that the synod would have to look at pressing, even controversial, issues facing the Church. “We don’t live in a vacuum so what we discuss at the synod will need to take account of the major issues facing the Church at this time, especially the family, young people and social issues,” he said.

Bishop Leahy said “a synod should be an opportunity to open up, look around us and see things from a different point of view”. However, he cautioned against unrealistic and unreasonable expectations. “We are open to all opinions being expressed and people can be assured they will be listened to but the synod will have to keep in mind and be attentive to the teaching of the Church,” Dr Leahy said.

Fr O’Hanlon said he welcomed the Limerick initiative describing it as “a formal expression of what has been happening already in different diocese around the country.

“I would love to see other bishops adopting similar initiatives and pursue them in an active way,” he said.

Fr O’Hanlon, who outlines a proposal for such a gathering in his book A New Vision for the Catholic Church: A view from Ireland, said the idea of a national synod is “along the lines of what Pope Francis is calling for in terms of more collegiality and local responsibly within the Church”.

“The synod in Limerick could form the basis for just that. I would love if we could have a national synod to sit together and discuss the challenges that currently face us,” he said.