A revised (and deeply disturbing) version of the Catholic Church is under discussion at the Synod on Synodality, which claims to be ‘inclusive’ and ‘welcoming’. Yet I am unable to discern how or where the synodal participants include or welcome God.
Which begs the question: was He even invited? Perhaps His invitation got lost in the mail. Or has He just declined to attend? Maybe He felt the invite was not sincere?
Here are some comments recorded in an article by the National Catholic Register. They were made by the Nigerian-born Catholic priest Father Agbonkhianmeghe Orobator, the dean of the Jesuit School of Theology at Santa Clara University in California, during a press briefing at the 16th General Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops (aka the Synod on Synodality) on Tuesday, Oct. 17.
I am curious to know what you think of them.
“I remain convinced that the process is going to be more important than the outcome. And the process for me has been truly enriching, focusing on elements, mechanisms, or frameworks of listening, of dialoguing and discerning,”
“I believe that this is the kind of framework and mechanism that would lead us as a community called Church to experience a new way of being, where people no matter who they are, status, station, or situation in the Church are able to be part of a process where they are not only heard but they are also able to contribute to a process of discernment. I am very grateful for the process that has been adopted.”
(I’m sorry, what was that?)
“From experience, there has not been any shortage of [divergence] and differences,” he said. “Divergent positions and differences of opinions and what the process allows us to do is not only to note convergence or consensus but also to note divergent and differences and that is part of the process.”
(Can anyone please explain what that means?)
Father Orobator continued: “I can testify that these divergent and differences have not degenerated into hostilities and animosity, and so that it is the constellation of convergence of divergences and differences that is going to be the matter for creating something new so that no voice is suppressed on any of the issues.”
(Again, any suggestions as to what’s being said here?)
Is it just me, or has anyone else noticed that nowhere is Jesus Christ mentioned, or the Gospels (or any Scripture at all) or even the Catholic Church? (Apparently we’re ‘a community called Church’.) And where are God the Father and the Holy Spirit?
It’s all about ‘the process being more important than the outcome’, ‘a new way of being’ and ‘a constellation of convergence of divergences and differences’.
What process? What outcome? What way of being? And what the heck is a constellation of divergences and differences?
It scares me that this is the depth of communication going on behind closed doors in the Vatican. How is this synod going to deepen our faith? How is any of this supposed to strengthen the Barque of Peter and steer her in the right direction?
What has any of this got to do with bringing souls to Christ and saving them from eternal damnation?
If you figure it out, please let me know.
Hilary Walker Books 