Chmielewski of Rome: In Vatican dispute over women. Synodity is going to a stormy end

[ROMMING CORRESPONDENCE #2]

On Monday, a press conference was held in Vatican City on the last phase of the Synod on Synodality. High-ranking synod representatives said things at least strange, and the gathering dominated the women's deaconate problem.

Among the participants of the conference were: cardinals. Matteo Zuppi, 1 of the most crucial papabiles and papal envoys to Ukraine; Cardinal-elect Timothy Radcliffe, Dominican and supporter of the fresh beginning on LGBT; p. Nathalie Becquart, vice-chief of the Synod Secretariat, portrayed as the "model female of success" of the Prose-Proseanian era of the pontificate of Francis. In addition to these, Paolo Rufus, the secular prefect of the Communication Dicastery, or Bishop Manuel Nin Güell, an apostolic exarch from Greece, known for his skepticism towards synodality.

During the preceding conference, a synod session was discussed present about the final synod document. However, the participants of the press conference did not say anything circumstantial about this. Cardinal-elect Timothy Radcliffe admitted with disconcerting honesty that he had not even read the paper yet; interestingly enough, despite this, he was convinced that many people would be disappointed with its content, as they would not find much concrete in it. How possible is the simultaneous cognition and ignorance, let us leave to the experts of postmodern logic; however, if we believe what Radcliffe himself and Cardinal Zuppie said about the character of the final document, it could be a reading guaranteeing... frustration. They both argued that synodality was about changing the way we were together in the Church and the transformation of relations between members of the Church. Cardinal Zuppi even spoke of a "deep change" to come. S. Nathalie Becquart, in turn, stated that we are dealing with "synodality in action" (sic), which means that everyone is just learning to be a Synod Church. That's an interesting conclusion after 3 years of synodization, isn't it?

The majority of journalists gathered in the Hall of Stampa were not curious in these vague divisions at all; it is barely surprising, due to the fact that the conference started with a alternatively strong accent, nevertheless not straight related to “synodical being together”. Paolo Rufus read the prefect of the Dicastery of the religion of the Card. Victor Manuel Fernández, who announced that his Dycasteria at the request of the Pope was preparing a paper on the function of women, but in the text There will be no decision on the deaconate of women, because, as the pope said, this issue is inactive “unripe”. The Cardinal stressed that there are also difficulties facing women in the Church, so it is now more appropriate to advance ladies in management functions alternatively than dealing with the Deacon. Questions about the women's deaconate were answered later by the conference participants, all pointing out that the issue of the women's deaconate is "wrong" due to the fact that women can be large teachers (doctors of the Church) and execute managerial functions (see p. Nathalie Becquart). 1 writer asked how it could be that Cardinal Fernández makes decisions on the women's deaconate without actually asking anyone's opinion and directing a committee that works according to an unknown agenda and rules. no of the participants of the conference could answer this; only Ms Becquart pointed to the aforementioned "synodality in action", suggesting that Cardinal Fernández had yet to learn real synodality. He besides points out that no 1 has argued against the theological deaconate of women, as if it were purely disciplinary or even sociological.

Does this all mean that the Synod of Synodality will be a complete failure? In my opinion, no. This is not why the organizers invested large effort and large money in an ongoing three-year venture to now whistle for its completion and decision on to the synod process to the agenda. Cardinal Zuppie or Cardinal-Elect Radcliffe's assurance that synodality is to affect a large and profound change must be taken seriously. In 1 of the earlier texts, I pointed out that during synod discussions the issue of decentralisation of the Church, including doctrinal decentralisation, is being discussed intensively.

I spoke to 1 of the Western European bishops today, who is known for his more conservative approach. He pointed out that in his opinion decentralisation can be understood in Catholic, for example, in specified a way that in any countries or regions there are deacons of steel (Germany, Poland, USA) and in others there is no (for example Africa).

It is hard to deny him the right, the problem is that if the substance were to be limited to specified formal issues, there would be nothing to discuss at all – it would be virtually breaking open doors. According to Francis' teaching from the “Evangelia Gaudium” of 2013, the Church is to open itself to “healthy decentralization”, which besides involves giving “certain doctrinal authority” to Episcopal conferences. This is the case with the synodical discussions, and it may be believed that an effort will be made to establish specified an knowing synodity in the Church, even in canon law.

The most crucial news of the day, however, are not these or another synod divisions, but the announcement of the publication on Thursday of the fresh encyclical Francis, “Dilexit nos”, or “He loved us”. The Pope writes about the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Christ's love for people in his human and divine dimension. It is interesting that the encyclical will be announced just a fewer days before the end of the synod; it is expected to include specified wording as would shed any light on the final paper of this assembly, especially in the aspect so dear to the pope of "inclusive love" – not to say "inclusive" – which would characterise God's relation with people. A very interesting subject may be the question of eternal salvation, due to the fact that it is known that Pope Francis personally hopes for an empty hell, nevertheless the tradition of the Church does not support specified hope.

However, concrete papal reflections will come to us only in a fewer days, and so far 1 thing is certain: even if the final synodal paper is cloudy, vague and vague, then the progressive reconstruction of the Church is going forward, in 1 way or another.

Paweł Chmielewski

Decentralization of the Church. This “want” Synod about Synodality? [ROMANIA CORRESPONDENCE]