A listening Church depends upon a plain speaking people

Unless plain speaking is universally accepted, received and adopted in written summaries, Rome will struggle to be informed of the views it seeks from the People of God.

Sep 23, 2022


By Justin Stanwix

By now there are characteristics of synodality that would seem beyond question: an active listening Church, where the People of God journey together, invoking the Holy Spirit as the source of communion and mission.

Critical in this context is that the communion of the Church is derived from divine love and gives rise to communion among the faithful.

When discerning silence is broken for the place of language that communion is entitled to be expressed plainly.

A recent analysis by Jon Rosebank and Penelope Middelboe (The synodal process: it's time to make a stand) identifies a disturbing evidence-based global tendency to sanitize language and propositions in summaries intended for Rome.

The authors describe the reasons for concern, based on factual evidence. They ask "whether the laity everywhere needs to make a stand before its inspiration is swept under a thickening episcopal carpet". Because, they explain, the effect is to hide the real substance of matters, sometimes to the point of obliteration.

The authors are not talking about a complex task of synthesizing elusive material, a difficult endeavor to summarize complex data or positions that are uncertain or are contested. They hold back from offering critical descriptors of the suspected explanation for sanitizing the language or obliterating the initiative.

Not an opportunity for a "free hit"
A synodal Church cannot make the journey unless people at all levels are bold enough to speak plainly, write plainly and have that plain speaking taken up, received and processed in a plain speaking way.

The freedom to speak and write plainly is not an opportunity for a "free hit", to agitate absurd or extraneous propositions or to demand a greater space or prominence for a subject than is appropriate.

Plain speaking will require some adjustment in thinking, a change in approach, a patient response to requests for change and acceptance of claims that may be unwanted – especially those that disturb the status quo.

Such a modification in approach is inevitably confronting. It involves surrender of agenda control, not ruling out subjects for inclusion, giving balanced coverage and clear description of material.

Burying requests or responses in platitudes has no place either.

Clearly, a difference in opinion or theological position is never a reason to skew language, adjust facts or omit a contention. In short, a full and fair report is required.

The ordinary bystander or even the passenger on the Clapham omnibus may be surprised to learn that such frankness and call for openness is even in question. But we are obliged to inform them that it's a real issue.

A fair report is hardly a novel idea since in some ways it is an example of Pope Francis' inspiration for his synodality initiative.

It's worth recalling his own story.

The pope's call for free speaking inside the Church
At the end of his first year in office, Francis made what will be recognized as a remarkably significant and historic statement.

"I was the rapporteur of the 2001 Synod and there was a cardinal who told us what should be discussed and what should not," he told the Argentine paper, La Nation, in 2014. "That will not happen now."

We all appreciate there is range of topics that are regarded as "sensitive" or "edgy".

Embracing Care of our Common Home is now permissible, even fashionable (and for good reason).

But what about homosexuality and gay marriage, attitudes to divorced couples, optional priestly celibacy, female diaconate and who is to be included at the Lord's Eucharistic Table? Or governance in the Church at all levels, with proper representation and transparent proceedings? That remain a mystery.

Francis has repeatedly encouraged bishops to speak freely and frankly, even on sensitive issues.

He commenced the request in 2014 for the Synod assembly on the family and has continued the theme right up to the recent meeting of cardinals on August 29 when he expressly requested free speaking on Praedicate Evangelium.

He himself has been unafraid to speak frankly on multiple occasions over the past seven years – to the Roman Curia, to cardinals, bishops and priests, in pastoral letters, at papal audiences and on international affairs.

Making sure the plain speaking is heard
It would be a travesty to suggest that his invitation for free speaking is limited to "approved subjects". On that basis it hard to identify why there is a reluctance for us all to not speak and write freely. Yet we know the Vatican goes to enormous lengths to control agendas, discussion and permissible subjects.

While that continues and national conferences of bishops are effectively suborned in the way described in the recent article, our synodal journey is painfully obstructed. That raises the question about what lay women and men can do "to stand up" as the article invites.

The Synod assembly on synodality in October 2023 is a bishops' meeting and that must be remembered.

What a shame if the papers that are to inform the synodal discussions should expurgate, redact or fail to raise matters plainly.

A direct submission to Rome with appropriate notoriety may be one to make sure our plain speaking is heard. -- LCI (https:// international.la-croix.com/)

Total Comments:0

Name
Email
Comments