Was Synod 2014 a "Turning Point" or "Clash of Factions"? What Will Synod 2015 Be?

The upcoming synod on marriage and family to take place at the Vatican in 2015 was in the news this week because the discussion document was released, and bishops around the world were once again asked to consult with the laity about matters pertaining to the synod’s topic.

Pope Francis

But this week there was also a looking back towards the October 2014 synod.  At his general audience on Wednesday, Pope Francis spoke about the recent meeting and said that the meeting did not include a “clash of factions,” as media reports indicated.  Religion News Service provided excerpts from the pope’s comments on the past synod:

“ ‘Some of you have asked me if the synod fathers fought,’ Francis said. ‘I don’t know if they “fought,” but they spoke forcefully. This is freedom. This is just the kind of freedom that there is in the church.’

“In a bid to set the record straight, the pope acknowledged the extensive media coverage of the global gathering in October and likened it to ‘sports or political coverage.’

“ ‘They often spoke of two teams, pro and con, conservatives and liberals,’ the pope told thousands of pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square.

“ ‘There was no clash between factions … but a dialogue between the bishops, which came after a long process of preparation and now continues, for the good of the family, the church and society. It’s a process.’ ”

Jesuit commentator Father Thomas Reese had a different interpretation of the meeting.  He stated that differences of opinion clearly existed among the synod participants, making this synod very different from those in recent memory.  Reese said:

“Rather than advising the pope, these earlier synods often simply quoted the pope to himself. They were a way of bishops showing their loyalty. Francis gave the bishops freedom to speak.”

Indeed, in the document that was released this week, that landmark meeting in October was described as a pastoral “turning point” for the Church, the Associated Press noted.

Both New Ways Ministry and DignityUSA criticized this week’s document because of using the term “homosexual tendencies,” and because of lack of focus on families headed by gay and lesbian couples. In addition to each group’s statements, an Advocate.com article contained additional comments from the leaders of these two organizations.

 

Ryan Denson, writing at AddictingInfo.com has a different point of view, though, about the document and the upcoming synod.  He sees the identification of a “turning point” as significant, and that the Catholic Church may be on the road to becoming more open to LGBT people and those who are divorced and remarried.  Denson wrote:

“Baby steps are turning into leaps as Pope Francis and the Vatican urge the world’s bishops to be guided, not just by doctrine, but by the Pope’s compassionate message which includes a ‘turning point’ inspired by meetings at the Vatican. The new message seeks to provide better pastoral care for gays and divorcees across the globe . . . .

“[I]n other words, the Vatican is asking the bishops and other clergy members to act like Jesus, who loves and respects all, and not act like arrogant, judgmental religious zealots. Instead of focusing on outdated dogma, Pope Francis is truly teaching the Gospels, and with the ousting of several prominent homophobic priests, the Vatican is starting to realize that he means business.

“The bottom line is this: the Pope is currently facing vocal opposition from those who view the church as an exclusive club where the unsaved and unworthy are not welcomed. He wants to change this. And he has made it very obvious that he does.”

ThinkProgress.com also looked on a more positive side to the survey released.  They quoted several progressive Catholic leaders, who have a more optimistic view of the synod, the questionnaire, and the process.  Bob Shine of New Ways Ministry was one of those more optimistic voices:

“ ‘Language about tendencies is problematic,’ Shine, who oversees young adult ministries for New Ways, told ThinkProgress in an email. ‘That said, I think the intentions of reaching out to and providing pastorally for LGBT people and their families is what is really guiding this process … Pope Francis has encouraged genuine dialogue during this whole synodal process.’ ”

Other Catholic leaders said likewise:

“ ‘Regardless of the wording, the survey itself is a step in the right direction towards providing better pastoral care of LGBT people, as is the Vatican asking for wider inputs from ‘all levels’ for the 2015 synod on the family,’ Stephen Seufert, state director of the progressive Catholic group Keystone Catholics, told ThinkProgress. ‘Both the survey and the Vatican document released yesterday relating to the 2015 synod are indications of a church that wants to focus less on rigid, uncompromising doctrine and more on providing greater pastoral care.’

“James Salt, executive director of the left-leaning advocacy group Catholics United, echoed Seufert.

“ ‘The fact that they are explicitly asking this question is a sign of progress,’ he said. ‘Rather than retreating to a position of doctrine, they are reflecting the changing world that we live in.’ ”

Clearly, marriage and family are high on Pope Francis’ agenda.  This week, he announced that he will be speaking on these topics in a series of talks at his weekly general audiences at the Vatican.  Bondings 2.0 will keep an eye on important messages, especially those relating to LGBT people.

So, what do you think?  Are you optimistic or pessimistic about the upcoming 2015 synod?  What did you think of the document that was released this week?  Are you surprised to hear Pope Francis say that the 2014 synod was not a contentious discussion?  Leave your thoughts in the “Comments” section of this post.

–Francis DeBernardo, New Ways Ministry

 

5 replies
  1. Joseph Gentilini
    Joseph Gentilini says:

    Because of the language used (homosexual tendencies), I am not all that hopeful that the Vatican will change its view on LGBTQ persons. I can be hopeful, but not surprised if it is a repeat of past Vatican pronouncements on gays.

    Reply
    • winterhavenlarry
      winterhavenlarry says:

      I try to remain optimistic by considering that perhaps “homosexual tendencies” was used in the document because it was published for many bishops who hold many varying views of homosexuality. In other words, it was a term that they all can understand or are familiar with or which they might personally use. Hopefully, someday soon it will be an out-dated term.

      Reply
  2. Friends
    Friends says:

    As much as I love what he’s doing, both pastorally and theologically, still I must say: when I see Pope Francis decked out in such outrageous “over-the-top” ecclesiastical garb, wearing a crown, and carrying a gold (or gold-plated) crucifix, my immediate question is: “What would Jesus Himself say to us about such absurd (and absurdly wasteful) royal pretentions?” Whatever happened to: “Go, sell what you have, give it to the poor, and come follow me”? I suspect that the Lutherans and Presbyterians are much closer to Jesus’ original intentions, at least in terms of their personal self-presentation, than “High Drag” Catholic pageantry asserts. Personally, I find it very off-putting. Francis in his simple white cassock and skull cap presents — at least to me — the ideal dignified image of an Ambassador of Jesus here on earth. Other opinions? Please share them. I’m curious to know if my opinion is somewhere out there in left field!

    Reply
    • Kathleen Fallon
      Kathleen Fallon says:

      The pageantry garb does not reflect christ to me either. The decked out churches bother me too. I feel sad for Pope Francis that this royalty presentation/treatment is hoisted upon him because it does not reflect his own true nature. At least that’s how I see pope francis, more like Jesus. Regardless of what silly things he wears, he is spreading Jesus’s message, to love God and to love each other and in thevprocess, exposing judgementalism and arrogance. It would be easier for me too if Pope Francis didnt have to get all decked out, but think about it this way… if he feels like us, imagine how much worse it is for him!

      Reply
  3. Adolph Dwenger
    Adolph Dwenger says:

    I think that there might be some pastoral elements discussed for Catholic parents or relatives of GLBT individuals. I do not think the Catholic Church will change its language and therefore GLBT individuals are still intrinsically disordered. The pastoral sense: They are sinners but we should perhaps be nicer to them.

    There will be no real change until we are no longer termed “intrinsically disordered.” It makes me sad.

    Reply

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