Dear reader,
The article penned by Bishop Brendan Leahy echoes Pope Francis’s aspirations for a globally active church focused on missions (“The Synodal Path seeks stretching outreach to the side-lined and peripheral”, Insights & Scrutiny, October 7th). Yet Bishop Leahy’s description of the synodal path as a “broad-reaching international consultative and dialogic process”, with Ireland “mirroring the voices within its 26 dioceses”, might be overly hopeful. Notably, the level of involvement from baptised Catholics in his diocese in the synodal proceedings stands at a meagre 3.55 per cent. Admittedly this exceeds Dublin’s dismal 1.13 per cent engagement rate, yet it doesn’t live up to the widespread consultation that Pope Francis may have desired.
We shouldn’t delude ourselves into thinking that the perspectives considered in the synodal procedure genuinely represent those of devout Catholics. If not, then the minority could be representing the multitude in the end. Kind regards,
PORTIA BERRY-KILBY,
Suffolk,
England.
While the Bishop Brendan Leahy’s piece gives a nod to the duties Catholics have towards societies’ disregarded poor, who are an ever-present segment of society, and to the torment of victims of abuse, it falls short in some areas. The identity of these groups and Catholic’s obligations towards them have been established. The article refers to the excluded, a term that remains undefined throughout, obscuring any insight into the demographics of this group, how these individuals come to be excluded and potential solutions.
Bishop Leahy portrays a church with Catholics around the world passionately moving forward together, a stark contrast to what the synodal operation actually solicits. It’s disturbingly clear that the majority of Catholics are largely unaware of the ongoing synod. The report on the national listening exercise carried out in Ireland that was presented to the Continental Synod in Prague in 2022 offered only a fraction of the input submitted by the laity. This point was highlighted to Bishop Leahy at that time.
Once the views of the common folk were received, they were pushed to the outer margins, their perspectives streamlined by superior professionals. No checks were made with the masses about the correctness of their projected views.
When considering the subsequent procedures, one key quotation from the write-up holds essence. This crucial statement pertains to the Pan-Synodal Gathering in 2023, correctly noting that “the Pan-Synodal Gathering served as a listening phase for everyone.” Bishop Leahy overlooks to mention that this exhaustive synod action, termed “Discussion in the Spirit”, entails hearing out (sans any debate) punctuated with lots of spiritual contemplation. The latter topic is absent from the piece. Furthermore, seldom in a synodal piece does the Spirit appear to independently function from Jesus Christ.
Also, the synodal process in 2024 is neither more inclusive nor different from the Irish perceptual session that took place years beforehand. As pointed out by Bishop Leahy, in 2023, the system was yet again assigned to unidentified expert committees during the same synod, whilst simultaneously, the Fiducia Supplicans Declaration was being compiled by Pope Francis and associates elsewhere in the Vatican. The synod convocation was reduced to a mere group of spectators, who were simply there to listen and pray.
To sum up, one must ponder over the fact whether this entire synodal procedure results in a focused power accumulation in the papacy, granting clout to elite experts, and positioning priests and laity at the margins.
Yours sincerely,
Neil Bray,
Cappamore,
County Limerick.