Does synod offer hope or illusion?

There’s nothing quite like inviting 1.2 billion people to express their views to the leadership of an institution. But that is just what Pope Francis, who has been in office 10 years now and never one to duck a challenge, has done.

The consultation process will take till 2024. Called a “synod,” after the Greek word for “journeying together,” it hopes to involve millions of people in conversation, recommendations, dialogue, fresh understanding, statement-writing and new commitment. The themes to be considered are communion, participation and mission. No one is to be excluded. That explicitly includes those who have “distanced themselves” from the Church, which describes people in my circles: young persons, most Quebecers, a lot of women and victims of abuse.

Robust participation in the synod, of course, depends on the co-operation of his bishops throughout the world. Many are of Francis’ mindset, eager for change, evidence-gathering and reform. Some are not, preferring the old teachings, structures and decision-making style. Disinterest and even hostility exist in some quarters.

All perspectives are being vigorously expressed. For example, the German bishops recently listed their desired changes: withdrawing the 1968 birth control encyclical, adopting blessings for same-sex couples and ordaining women to the priesthood. Answering them was a group of 74 bishops, mostly American, who said that unity would be fractured and tradition lost.

In charge of the synod is Cardinal Mario Grech from Portugal, who has taken to giving Zoom talks in five languages. The leading woman is Nathalie Becquart, a French nun who sails as a hobby. The Vatican has been enlisting technology to good effect. I found an address and wrote to Sister Nathalie with my ideas (synod.va).

The Church stands indicted of great evil in many aspects of its history: witch burnings, forced conversions, anti-Jewish prayers, colonial domination, sexual abuse and an immature grasp of sexuality. It also has done great good: commitment to the poor, spiritual accompaniment, protection of minorities, pleas for the environment, offering widespread education, and making appeals against nuclear arms, to name a few.

So one approaches this huge global effort at reform with an open mind. Some bishops’ conferences have been brave, participating in public life. The Brazilians just condemned the assault on democracy there.

This Pope is a world traveller and thinker. Last summer he spent five days in Canada. At month’s end, he goes to the Democratic Republic of Congo. He has described his desired church as a “field hospital.” He is making reforms in church administration in Rome. But sadly, he shows little grasp of the damage done by the exclusion of women.

The Peterborough diocese, under Bishop Daniel Miehm and his communications person, Deirdre Thomas, with a committee of 17, has vigorously initiated the synod.

There were online surveys, inparish meetups, a special effort to engage students in area Catholic high schools and an educational program for parishioners to better understand Indigenous feelings. Fifteen parishes submitted reports. Four thousand people took part. A 24-page synthesis was drawn up and sent to the Ontario Conference of Bishops and then to the compiled report from North America.

Ultimately, decisions lie with meetings of bishops in October 2023 and 2024. And there’s the rub. Who gets to decide on the future of this church? A “bishops alone” model just does not suffice any longer.

Unless there is a substantial number of lay women participating, and aspects of democratic decision-making evident, the synod will fail in important ways, as worthy as the effort has been.