Pope Francis is banking on an unprecedented consultation of the Faithful revitalising the Church, but discernment remains hard to pin down, writes Michael Kelly from Rome Pope Francis has opened a global consultation process on the future of the Church warning that it is not a parliament or a matter of putting Church dogma up…
Tags: synod
Irish Synod can be grace-filled…or a headline-chasing waste of time
I felt blessed to be in Rome at the weekend to be with Pope Francis for the launch of the synodal way which will see a massive programme of consultation in every parish in the Catholic world. The Irish phase of the consultation – known as the synodal way – will begin in dioceses this…
Irish synod should not ‘water down’ teaching to cater to elite classes
Many people who seek to change Church teaching are “upper class and highly educated” and Ireland’s national synod must focus on bringing them back to the Church rather than “watering down” the Gospel, according to an Irish priest in Australia. Australia entered into its ‘Plenary Council’ process on Sunday – a process similar to a…
Punctuation in anticipation of the synodal pathway
Notebook Synodal pathway… I am not sure whether that should be followed with an exclamation mark, a question mark or a full stop! Synodal pathway! (Exclamation mark) That could work. I am prone to overusing exclamation marks and am not quite sure why. I like them. They suggest life, a bit of fun and wonder…
Dr Nicola Brady appointed chair of the synodal steering committee
The Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference have announced the appointment of Dr Nicola Brady as chair of the synodal steering committee, which will help lead the way towards Ireland’s national synod. The bishops said they decided to establish the synodal steering committee and a synodal task group to help move forward the synodal pathway process for Ireland…
Bishops express thanks for synodal submissions following summer conference
The Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference has expressed its thanks for over 550 Synodal Pathway submissions received over the past months as part of the initial phase of the synodal process. The bishops also decided to establish a Synodal Steering Committee and Synodal Task Group to “help move forward the Synodal Pathway process for Ireland”, the…
Synod can’t become promotion for individual agendas, says bishop
Bishop Donal McKeown warned that Ireland’s synodal process will “go nowhere if the desired outcome is promoting individual agendas” in a homily, June 13
The Irish synod and the quiet revolution of Francis
The Pope is putting greater faith in the local Church and does not believe that the magisterium must intervene to settle every doctrinal, moral and pastoral dispute, writes Fr Declan Marmion SM The Catholic Church is typically structured as a pyramid – the Pope at the top, people at the base. Pope Francis wants to…
Bishops announce submission phase of synodal path
The Irish Bishops have announced the initial submission phase of the upcoming synod, which was announced March 10. Commenting on the development, Bishop Brendan Leahy of Limerick said the bishops were inviting submissions “to reflect on what methods/models to adopt” in the coming two years of conversations. He gave as examples “parish hall meetings, focus…
Synod risks becoming ‘talking shop’ if not focused on mission, says bishop
Bishop Dónal McKeown said that the Irish Synod must be focused on “re-energising the mercy mission” of the Church or risk becoming a “curious talking shop”. The bishop of Derry’s comments come as the initial submission phase for the National Synodal Assembly begins. Writing in The Net, Bishop McKeown said that synodality does not mean…