Most Catholics in our day and age realise that our dear old Mother Church needs to be updated. Progressive Catholic movements all over the world have been clamouring for this over the decades. The good news is that Pope Francis has now created a mechanism by which much needed reforms could come about.
He has initiated a process of consultations in the Church known as the Synodal Process. The whole process will take three years. It moves from parochial and diocesan level, to national and continental level, then finally to an international level. This is a massive opportunity that we should not miss!
To judge the potential of the Synodal Process for yourself, read the following extracts from what Pope Francis said at the opening of the Synodal Process on the 9th of October 2021:
All should participate
“We must cultivate an ecclesial praxis that expresses the concreteness of synodality at every step of our journey and activity, encouraging real involvement on the part of each and all. I would say that celebrating a Synod is always a good and important thing, but it proves truly beneficial if it becomes a living expression of “being Church”, of a way of acting marked by true participation.
This is not a matter of form, but of faith. Participation is a requirement of the faith received in baptism. As the Apostle Paul says, “in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body” (1 Cor 12:13). In the Church, everything starts with baptism. Baptism, the source of our life, gives rise to the equal dignity of the children of God, albeit in the diversity of ministries and charisms. Consequently, all the baptized are called to take part in the Church’s life and mission. Without real participation by the People of God, talk about communion risks remaining a devout wish. In this regard, we have taken some steps forward, but a certain difficulty remains and we must acknowledge the frustration and impatience felt by many pastoral workers, members of diocesan and parish consultative bodies and women, who frequently remain on the fringes. Enabling everyone to participate is an essential ecclesial duty! All the baptized, for baptism is our identity card.”
We should become a listening Church
“We have the opportunity of moving not occasionally but structurally towards a synodal Church, an open square where all can feel at home and participate. The Synod then offers us the opportunity to become a listening Church, to break out of our routine and pause from our pastoral concerns in order to stop and listen. To listen to the Spirit in adoration and prayer. Today how much we miss the prayer of adoration; so many people have lost not only the habit but also the very notion of what it means to worship God! To listen to our brothers and sisters speak of their hopes and of the crises of faith present in different parts of the world, of the need for a renewed pastoral life and of the signals we are receiving from those on the ground.”
We should be ready to accept change
“There is the temptation of complacency, the attitude that says: “We have always done it this way” (Evangelii Gaudium, 33) and it is better not to change. That expression – “We have always done it that way” – is poison for the life of the Church. Those who think this way, perhaps without even realizing it, make the mistake of not taking seriously the times in which we are living. The danger, in the end, is to apply old solutions to new problems. A patch of rough cloth that ends up creating a worse tear (cf. Mt 9:16). It is important that the synodal process be exactly this: a process of becoming, a process that involves the local Churches, in different phases and from the bottom up, in an exciting and engaging effort that can forge a style of communion and participation directed to mission.” (1)
John Wijngaards’ latest book: ‘Ten Commandments for Church Reform’ documents a series of issues in the Church that need to be addressed. It is all based on his life-long priestly ministry in many parts of the world. Many of his observations will resonate with experiences of your own. Their importance emerges from the impact on people’s real lives which he has seen first hand.
In a surprising way Wijngaards’ call for reforms is itself an exercise in the inner-Church self-examination and discussion Pope Francis is calling for. ‘Ten Commandments’ is a useful tool because it highlights topics that should be discussed in the various synodal consultations. Read it and recommend it to others.
Maria Elsa Beek
Footnote. 1. Read the full text of Pope Francis address here: https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/speeches/2021/october/documents/20211009-apertura-camminosinodale.html
