US Catholic theologians, bishops discuss openly

U.S. Catholic bishops and theologians gathered at Boston College to discuss the synodal path the Catholic Church needs to take. Image: Francisco Gonzales|Unsplash

Dozens of U.S. Catholic bishops and theologians trooped to Boston College on March 3-4 to talk about the best way for the Church to "live out the synodal path" that Pope Francis had described as 'God's church expectation for the third millennium.'

Frank Discussion on Synodal Path

The two-day gathering was dubbed "The Way Forward: Pope Francis, Vatican II, and Synodality." It featured an 'open way' by which some bishops discussed their 2021-2023 Synod of Bishops' local consultative process experiences and thoughts.

According to NCR Online, the conference enforced the "Chatham House Rule." The rule encourages open discussion of ideas without fear of being identified by journalists covering the event.

One bishop said the synodal path must include "better catechesis" in the synodal process as it progresses. The bishop said many of his diocesan participants view the church "more as an institution than a spiritual communion."

Meanwhile, another bishop said he struggles to balance his role as a defender of the Church and to listen to Catholics' "unvarnished thoughts about the church."

Rafael Luciani, a theologian from Boston College, explained that the Church should not become stagnant by maintaining the status quo relative to synodality.

"It is not enough simply to maintain and adapt what has existed until now; it is necessary to create something new," NCR Online quoted him saying.

Another Catholic theologian, Robin Darling Young, said in her presentation that synods are nothing new in the Catholic Church. Young explained that there have been 'over 200 regional synods by the fourth century.'

Young, who teaches church and Christian history at the Catholic University of America, added that the synod "is deeply rooted in early Christianity." She explained further that the process 'was not invented by Constantine, nor by the Roman Empire.'

Challenges Confronting Synodal Process

Several participants in the two-day conference identified challenges that those involved in the synodal process must face.

One Catholic scholar pointed out how Catholic apologists mistakenly confuse truth as 'a proposition instead of a person.'

During his keynote speech titled "Collegiality, Synodality, and the Pastoral Vision of Pope Francis," Texas bishop Daniel Flores explained that various challenges have negatively affected the church's synods throughout centuries.

Bishop Flores said politics and divisiveness caused by differences in language and race have made sitting down and happily accepting peoples' connectedness to the church doubly difficult. He added that those involved in the synodal process must be serious and prepared to do serious work to make things work.

Meanwhile, a Midwest bishop said the Church must "learn from its mistakes." He gave as an example the liturgical reform that followed the 1962-65 Second Vatican Council involving Catholic clergy and laity.

The bishop said it is vital how the Church approaches synodality.

"How we do this is very important, because the goal is to actually have a changed church, not to score points. We should be a bit more disciplined and a little more realistic about what our goals are," he explained.