Girls, LGBTQ+, married monks left out of file running synod

ROME – An ongoing file for the overall archive of Pope Francis’s controversial synod of bishops on the synod, presented at an information conference on Tuesday, will probably be considered by most eyewitnesses more noteworthy for what it said than for what it said. What more is not said.

The respectable running file, called a. is called instrumentum laborisThe second Rome-based consultation of the Synod of Bishops on synodology was published on 9 July, marking the honorable end of a three-year process.

At the end of last year’s preliminary consultations, a synthesis file summarizing the month-long discussion was widely considered a disappointment to those who had hoped the synod would address issues such as married monks, the ordination of women and But will urge action. The welcome of LGBTQ+ people has been some of the most emotional and controversial conversation topics.

Related: While striving for consensus, the Synod ends up dealing with contentious issues lightly

Those who are dissatisfied with the synthesis file will probably also be disappointed by the ongoing file for this year’s collection, which incorrectly mentions priestly celibacy or married priesthood, and which may be absent of references to the LGBTQ+ community. ,

There is no mention of “homosexual,” “orientation,” or “homosexual” in the file, although there is a general acknowledgment of the desire on all continents “to regard people who, for various reasons, are Are or feel excluded or on the margins of the church community or who struggle to find full recognition of their dignity and gifts within it.

“This lack of welcome makes them feel rejected, hinders their journey of faith and encounter with the Lord, and deprives them of their contribution to the mission of the Church,” the file said.

On girls, like a synthesis file, instrumentum laboris Praises the general desire to include women more frequently in leadership and governance roles and to promote better inclusion of women, but without providing any details regarding the priestly ordination of women or the female diaconate.

What it said was a general call for bishops’ meetings to recognize what girls already do, and to advance those roles, while also exploring “ministerial and pastoral modalities that the Spirit may pour out.” calls for better expression of the charisms and gifts given to us. Attacking Women in Response to the Pastoral Needs of Our Time.

The file said bishops’ meetings ensured girls’ widespread participation “in all stages of ecclesiastical discernment and decision-making processes” and the right of entry “to positions of responsibility in dioceses and church institutions.” In accordance with the existing provisions.”

There were also requests for “greater recognition and support for the life and charism of holy women and their employment in positions of responsibility” and for “the right of admission for girls to positions of responsibility in seminaries, institutes and theological schools.” . ,” besides a large collection of girl judges in all the prescribed processes.

In the diaconate of women, the report said that some bishops’ meetings called for the right to enter it, while others expressed opposition, saying only that “this is an issue that is not the subject of work for another session.” , it is good that religious reflection should continue on appropriate timescales and in appropriate ways.

Pope Francis is exploring ways to involve girls with his management advisory body, the Council of Cardinals, advising him on church administration and reform.

Since last December, that team has heard several presentations from women on how to better engage with women in the future and control of the church, including proposals for the diaconate. Pope Francis, on the other hand, said earlier this year, when asked in an interview with CBS whether women would ever be ordained monks or deacons, that it would not happen.

The Synod’s ongoing file mentions that certain theological and canonical questions concerning special methods of ecclesiastical ministry for girls as well as their participation in the future and management of the Church, “to the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF) Have been handed over.” ), in conversation with the Secretary General of the Synod,” and is being mentioned.

Other topics addressed were clerical abuse scandals, as the Church grapples with high-profile cases such as that of Slovenian former Jesuit Father Marko Rupnik, who was accused of abusing more than 30 adult women over several decades, and whose The matter is currently being investigated by the DDF.

On the abuse factor, the file cited clericalism as the cause of abuse and said there is a need for higher transparency and accountability.

“In our times, the demand for transparency and accountability in and by the Church has resulted in a loss of credibility due to financial scandals and, even more, sexual abuse and other abuses of minors and vulnerable persons.” Stated in the file.

For the Church to create additional synods and thus welcome additional ones, the file says, “accountability and transparency must then be at the core of its action at all levels, not just at the level of authority.”

“However, those in positions of authority have a greater responsibility in this regard,” it said, calling for greater attention to transparency and responsibility when considering the drafting of pastoral plans, forms of evangelization and “how the Church respects should go. For example, in relation to the dignity of the human person, his working conditions within his institutions.”

The file states that adherence to duty towards superiors has been a common practice in the Church, while “the dimension of accountability of authority towards the community must be recovered.”

“Transparency should be a characteristic of the exercise of authority in the Church. Today, structures and forms of regular evaluation of how all types of ministerial responsibilities are performed have become essential,” it said.

instrumentum laboris The image was compiled according to various reports summarizing the reflected image and discussion on a synthesis file published at the end of last year’s October session, which was published and sent back to the bishops’ meetings for entry.

According to an informational notice from the Vatican, as of June 30 the Vatican Synod Office had received 108 reports in the synthesis file from more than 200 global entities, including bishops’ meetings as well as numerous religious institutes and universities. , schools, trusts and individual communities or associations of individuals.

The file was written by a group of theologians including bishops, monks, spiritual women and men and lay people from around the world, with members of the Synod’s General Council making final changes before officially presenting it to Pope Francis. Had done.

The participants of the Synod’s General Council come with Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich of Luxembourg; Basic Cardinal Mario Grech, Secretary of the Maltese Synod of Bishops; Undersecretary of the Synod of Bishops, Spanish Bishop Luis Marín de San Martín, and French Sister Nathalie Becquart, who may also be Undersecretary of the Synod of Vocations.

An initial version of the ongoing file was sent to about 70 people representing various church ranks – including monks, consecrated persons, laity, theologians and pastoral staff – whom the Vatican said were Others represented “ecclesiastical sensibilities” and “theological schools”.

With some changes, the file was later sent back to the General Council, which made additional changes before sending it to Pope Francis for mercy.

instrumentum laboris It is divided into 5 categories, beginning with a composition followed by a division dedicated to the synod’s work on doctrines.

The 3 “closely linked” parts focus on the “missionary synodal life” of the Church from 3 other perspectives, the primary of which is the relationship perspective: with God, with others, and between church buildings.

The 4th session focuses on pathways that concretely backup and nurture the relationship dynamics explored in the previous division, and the 5th division is dedicated to the concrete playing fields in which these relationships are and will be shaped, as well. Also the differences and interconnected nature. Those relationships, which are inherent within religion.

The file additionally carries what is known as an informational notice “Religious Subsidy”, which gives canonical and religious context to many of the subject matter presented within it. instrumentum laboris,

The notice says those references are intended to help synod participants understand the basis of the ongoing file and that it draws references to scripture, Church tradition, the Second Vatican Council and the magisterial documents of Pope Francis.

It is anticipated that a final file will be prepared to present to the Pope for reflection and possible apostolic exhortation in the concluding synod consultation this October, as has been the case at the time.

RELATED: Girls deacons for synod no longer required to be celibate, Vatican says

With the inadequacy of mention on concrete issues such as the diaconate of women, some eyewitnesses see the progress as Pope Francis possibly taking inflammatory issues off the desk so as not to sideline the discussion with hot-button issues that have been at stake since the beginning. There is a lack of consensus.

Francis made a similar development when, before the opening of the synod, Francis responded to a series of dubia or doubts raised by five conservative cardinals about the issues in which he affirmed the cancellation of the priestly ordination of women. Said that it will be studied. , and opened a cautious door to the blessing of same-sex unions on a case-by-case basis, with positive caveats.

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