LGBTQ+ Issues Feature Prominently at Vatican Briefing; More Synod Updates

ROME—For the first time this month, LGBTQ+ issues were prominent at a Vatican press briefing, most likely becausee the panel of delegates had significant, and opposing, records on these topics.

Though the speakers did not raise LGBTQ+ issues in their opening remarks, they faced repeated questions from journalists during the Q&A period.  Unfortunately, most answers given were minimal but, in one instance, quite surprising. Today’s post features this news and other items as the Synod’s assembly concludes this week.

LGBTQ+ Questions at Press Briefing Draw Limited Responses

The briefing on Tuesday featured two bishops who have led opposite sides of the church’s debate over Fiducia Supplicans and the question of blessing same-gender couples. Bishop Franz-Josef Overbeck of Essen, Germany, and Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, each have made strong statements over the past year.

Overbeck has been a forceful advocate for LGBTQ+ inclusion—proposing a reconsideration of church teaching on sexuality, defending queer church workers’ rights, and being an early supporter of same-gender blessings.

Ambongo, as president of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar, led the African bishops’ harsh rejection of Fiducia Supplicans, and he promotes the false notion that LGBTQ+ rights are a form of colonization.

Elise Allen of Crux asked the two prelates whether the synodal experience has changed their perspectives on LGBTQ+ issues.  Ambongo refused to answer, but Overbeck offered the following response:

“We are living in a very difficult culture [over]the last 50, 60 years [with regard] to the question of LGBTQ [people] and respect for different kinds of living, sex,  gender, and also partnership. This is also a question in the church for more than 20, 30 years that had never been [raised] before. . .Now, there are some intensive clarifications on the level of pastoral work within our dioceses, with different results. . . .This may be a good step [that we are now] being honest and being very sensitive to the destiny of people. And also being aware of this [idea]: The first [agent] who is working is God [who has] the aim of [reaching] every people and every body. [Who is] not first [is] the church.”

A second question was directed to Ambongo concerning an essay by Cardinal-designate Timothy Radcliffe, OP, in L’Osservatore Romano, the Vatican newspaper. In the essay, Radcliffe suggested that African bishops’ responses to LGBTQ+ rights are impacted by money from conservative foreign groups. Ambongo said it was “important to clarify things,” and then he made a surprising claim (via translation):

“We follow the teachings of Fr. Radcliffe, and I do not recognize at all what Fr. Radcliffe said in the article you are mentioning. I can tell you that today Fr. Radcliffe came to me before we began because he read the article only yesterday, and he is shocked that such things may have been written attributing these things to him.

“It is your duty as journalists to clarify things. Fr. Radcliffe has never said these things and this does not correspond at all to his personality. . .I can assure you that this is something that is totally untrue. This has got nothing to do with what Fr. Radcliffe has said. I don’t know who wrote this article, but the intention of this article was to create an incident. Fortunately, this has not happened.”

Notably, Radcliffe’s essay in L’Osservatore Romano this month was essentially a translation into Italian of an English-language essay by Radcliffe that The Tablet published in the spring. He also made similar comments about the African context when addressing LGBT+ Catholics Westminster’s 25th anniversary celebration this past May. But so far, neither Radcliffe nor anyone at the Vatican have commented on Ambongo’s shocking claim.

A third question, focused on Fiducia Supplicans, wasdirected to both Ambongo and another panelist, Cameroonian Archbishop Andrew Nkea Fuanya of Bamenda. Again, Ambongo did not respond. Fuanya answered, but he did not address LGBTQ+ issues directly, deflecting instead with the following: “We may have differences in reasoning, but what we all look forward to is that at the end of this Synod, and in continuation to live our Catholic faith, the church will still be one, holy, Catholic, and apostolic.”

Both Inside and Outside the Synod, Concerns Raised about Disappointment

Though a few days are left before Synod’s General Assembly votes on and releases its final report, one word is already being voiced with some frequency: disappointment.

On Monday, Cardinal-designate Timothy Radcliffe, OP, preached a meditation to the assembly that acknowledged some may be disappointed by the Synod’s result, but to trust that “God’s providence is at work in this Assembly, bringing us to the Kingdom in ways that God alone knows.”

Radcliffe followed up at a press briefing, saying, “I think maybe the temptation of many people, including the press, is to look for startling decision. . .I think that is a mistake. Because the Synod is about a deep renewal of the church in a new situation.” He also claimed “many people in the synod, out of the synod, in the church, still struggle to understand the nature of the synod,” seeing it as a parliament intended to make decisions when “it’s been repeated endlessly that is not the sort of body it is.”

Staff members at America have written about their concerns with the possible Synod results. Zac Davis, an associate editor and co-host of the podcast Jesuitical, wrote, in part:

“We are told repeatedly that this synod is about a new way of being church. I worry that many Catholics will come away from this process disillusioned if the new way leads to the same results. They should be able to point to something new and concrete in their own experience of church in the years to come. . .

“Taking a step is a very concrete thing. That is what the people of God hope for. I agree with Father Radcliffe that the synod doesn’t have to do everything. But it should do something; it should take a next step. If we don’t, I fear we will lose too many people who want to take the next step with us.”

Similarly, Fr. Ricardo da Silva, SJ, an America associate editor and host of the podcast Preach, raised concerns that the Synod assembly’s final report would be too complex and full of jargon for it to be of any use for average Catholics. He wrote, in part:

“Who, after all, is the synod for? We speak of a synod that is more inclusive, participatory, transparent and accountable, calling for shared responsibility among the people of God. Yet, how can we achieve this if the language of the synod remains impenetrable, accessible only to a select few? . . .

“This struggle resonates with my experience of insider language in the church and how it can be wielded—particularly among the hierarchy and theologically trained—to exclude others. Even if it is not intentional on the part of bishops and theologians participating in these sessions, the effect of exclusion can still be the same. Just as I grappled with using language to shield my insecurities, the jargon and specialized terminology can create barriers for those seeking to participate, leaving them feeling like outsiders. This insider language can alienate individuals seeking meaningful interaction, making it harder to foster an inclusive community and achieve the deep unity we desire for our church. . .

“[I]f some insider language is needed during discussions between bishops and theologians, I hope the final document will be simple and clear enough for my mom and me to understand.”

Hong Kong Cardinal Objects to Fiducia Supplicans

In a blog post for a Hong Kong Catholic news source, Cardinal Joseph Zen, bishop emeritus of Hong Kong and a noted opponent of Pope Francis, criticized the Synod and its leadership for trying “to overthrow the Church hierarchy and implement a democratic system.” His critique included a swipe at the pope for meeting with a group of transgender and ally Catholics, organized by New Ways Ministry.

In arguing his position, Zen highlighted Fiducia Supplicans as contravening synodality and exhibiting “incredible arrogance” by church leaders who produced it. Crux reported further:

“Zen claims if this issue is not resolved in the synod, ‘the future of the Church will be very unclear, because some clergy and friends of the pope who insist on changing the Church tradition in this regard continue to push forward their plans with all strength.’

“‘While the synod is going on, they actively promoted their agenda outside the meeting hall. What is worrying is that even the so-called New Ways Ministry, which advocates transgenderism have been very warmly received by the Pope a few days ago,’ the cardinal said.”

—Robert Shine (he/him), New Ways Ministry, October 23, 2024