An Extraordinary Synod—In More Ways Than One

Left: Archbishop Zbignevs Stankevics of Riga, Latvia. Center: Pope Francis wipes his eyes at the start of the morning session of the extraordinary Synod of Bishops on the family Oct. 13. Right: Prelates at a morning session. (Photos: CNS photo/Paul Haring)

An Extraordinary Synod—In More Ways Than One | Fr. D. Vincent Twomey, SVD | Catholic World Report

There is nothing very courageous about offering "pastoral" recommendations that fail to challenge a world that still bears the scars of the sexual revolution of the 1960s

This Synod is extraordinary in more ways than one. It is extra-ordinary in the simple sense of being merely preparatory to the actual or ordinary Synod that will take place in twelve months' time.

But the Synod is also extraordinary in the more colloquial sense of the term (i.e. being rather strange). Cardinal Kasper's address to the February Consistory in preparation for the Synod set the agenda. It was widely publicized in various languages and actively promoted by the author in interviews and talks around the world. It expressed his life-long campaign to allow divorced and civilly remarried faithful receive Holy Communion in certain restricted circumstances. He has not come up with one convincing answer to the theological critique that has been made of his essentially casuistic position. The issue of remarried divorcees is a real pastoral problem in Western Europe and North America but is not the only one, nor the most pressing one. And yet it became the focus of an intense pre-synodal debate, distracting attention from more central issues such as widespread cohabitation, child welfare, and pornography in the West, polygamy in Africa, or interreligious marriage in Asia. What is most strange is that the whole area of so-called artificial reproduction (IVF, surrogacy, etc.) never surfaced in any report.

Secondly, the lack of openness and transparency at the Synod is extraordinary. Unlike previous Synods, where summaries of each contributor's paper were made available, and the full texts could be requested, total secrecy was imposed—apart from the (generally impressive) testimonies given by married couples at the opening of each session. The Bishops were informed that their own contributions were the property of the Synod, and so could not be made public. Instead, a "summary" of the day's proceeding was presented by the Holy See's press spokesman accompanied by select Cardinals and Bishops. From the very outset, it became clear to this observer that we were only hearing one side of whatever discussion might have taken place.

Confirmation of the fact that the voice of those who opposed the proposed agenda was ignored or silenced was the secret ballot to elect the moderators of the smaller language group discussions. The majority of those elected were known opponents of Cardinal Kasper's agenda:

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