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ON WEDNESDAY, POPE Francis opened the second and final session of a historic Synod in the Vatican.
This final phase of the rather mysteriously titled ‘Synod on Synodality’ is taking place until 27 October and it may suggest doctrinal changes to Church teaching.
The first phase took place last October and a final document from the Synod will be presented to the Pope early next year.
The Pope will then later issue his own final text based on the Synod’s discussions.
While the first phase of the Synod addressed issues such as the place of LGBTQ+ people within the Church and whether women should be ordained, these topics have since been sent out to study groups to consider.
These groups are due to report back next June, meaning any decision won’t be taken until then.
However, the group looking at whether women should be ordained this week said that while the study remains open, “based on the analysis conducted so far… there is still no room for a positive decision regarding the access of women to the diaconate”.
Kate McElwee, the executive director of the Women’s Ordination Conference, said that “while many have attempted to silence the conversation on women’s ordination, dismiss our work as ‘lobbying,’ or relegate the discernment into the shadows, we are determined to be visible”.
Pope Francis had said that taking these issues off the table would help Synod members to focus more on the “mission of the Church” and how to increase participation.
This week, he also called on members to “be careful not to see our contributions as points to defend at all costs or agendas to be imposed” and added that participants should not “seek to advance their own causes or agendas without listening to others”.
However, groups partaking in the Synod have said it is “inevitable that these issues will come up in discussions”.
Indeed, the term LGBTQ+ didn’t appear in the synthesis document arising from the first phase of the Synod.
This document was voted on line by line, and it’s understood the term LGBTQ+ was left out because of concerns that any paragraph including it would not get the two-thirds vote required due to opposition from African and Eastern European bishops.
Julianne Moran is the general secretary of the Irish Synodal Pathway and speaking to The Journal last year, she said: “I can understand the upset for people that the actual title LGBTQ+ didn’t appear in the document, but sexual identity as a question did.”
The Synod assists the Pope with its counsel and “consider questions pertaining to the activity of the Church in the world”.
The word “synod” means “assembly” and Pope Francis describes it as “journeying together”.
This is the 16th Synod and for the first time, women and laypeople have a vote in the assembly.
While the majority of the 368 voting members are bishops, 70 are non-bishop members and 54 of these are women.
The current synod was formally announced in March, 2020 and the world’s 1.3 billion Catholics were invited to express their views on the Catholic Church and its challenges to help guide the institution through the 21st Century.
Insights from local parishes feed into national documents, which in-turn were distilled into continental documents presented at the Synod.
Topics addressed in the first phase included issues such as the place of LGBTQ+ people within the Church, whether women should be ordained, and whether married men can serve as priests in regions with insufficient clergy.
A letter from Pope Francis in February remarked that these issues “require in-depth study” which is not possible to do this month during the second session of the Synod.
The Pope said the study groups should contain “Pastors and Experts from all Continents to take part in them.”
He added that they should take into “consideration the most relevant current experiences in the local Churches”.
It’s likely Pope Francis will issue the final Synod text after receiving the study group reports in the summer.
A group that supports LGBTQ Catholics, DignityUSA, said that while it is “inevitable that these issues will come up in discussions, we recognise that specific proposals will not come out of October’s deliberations”.
But DignityUSA questioned how diverse the study groups are and added that the Synod process has “exposed the need for truly radical changes in our Church”.
A Penitential Vigil presided over by Pope Francis took place in St Peter’s Basilica on Tuesday on the eve of the Synod.
The Vigil “requested forgiveness for sins of abuse, sins against women, and sins of using doctrine as stones to be hurled”.
There were testimonies of war, sexual abuse and migration.
The testimony about sexual abuse came from Laurence, a South African man who was abused at the age of 11 by a priest.
“One beautiful South African morning, he took me by the hand to a dark place where, in shuddering silence, he took from me what should never be taken from any child,” he told St. Peter’s Basilica and the pontiff during the service.
“My story is one of many, and it is by sharing these experiences and facing them fearlessly that we shed light on this particular perfidious darkness,” said Laurence.
He said the “reluctance to address these crimes openly has been a disservice to the victims and a betrayal of the Church’s ethical and spiritual responsibilities” and that a “key factor in the crisis is a lack of transparency within the Church”.
Francis said the service was intended “to begin to heal wounds that never stop bleeding.”
“We ask forgiveness, feeling ashamed, from those who have been hurt by our sins,” said the Pope.
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That’s great and It’d be great if he also announced that the extra levy put on petrol and diesel in an austerity measure 10 years ago was being reversed now due to the crippling extra cost the current price inflicts on the citizens.
@Gerry Ryan:
Not quite the same thing as having a criminal record just for being who you are.
@Gerry Ryan: How do you conflate human rights with a petrol levy?
@Gerry Ryan: Yea and while they are dealing with that, another equally important issue to what you’ve just raised is the price of a pint of milk, it’s just going up, those dang farmers making a killing, it’s becoming increasingly difficult for citizens to get the right amount of soakage in the Corn Flakes every morning, this country will grind to a halt then I tells ya!
@George Hogan: in the scheme of issues that influence and concern the lives of the vast majority of the citizens the cancellation of the petrol levy will deliver a concrete and tangible improvement in their ability to pay their bills, look after their children and relieve the pressure of everyday expenses.
@George Hogan: what exact human right would that be?
@Tweed Cap: Well many child slaves and abuse victims of industrial schools could use the decriminalisation act as they were tortured for who they were to and are still being victimized
@George Hogan: Your right the Fuel level is more important.
What about recognizing the homeless, and even the thousands of hidden homeless displaced and sleeping on couches, or is that something that would damage the govs reputation because the govs reputation is more important than everything else. It’s all about appearances and image. There is very little substance with this gov.
Leo got his recognition as a gay politician from Time magazine half way around the world who seriously hasn’t got a clue what’s really going on in Ireland. It makes a nice story. Looks like Leo is trying to build on that now. Ignoring all the crisies is what works for him now. They won’t go down on record in the Time magazine story, but this might.
@Adrian: Sure just apply to the social, they give out free houses I hear?
The homophobis are out in force today. How dare the government do one right thing when they are so many other problems. If the government announced that it was building 3000 house’s inthe morning I doubt you guys would be on here saying what about the gay people who were thrown into prison because of how they were born.
@Jack McGready: I am so shocked Jack, that as a staunch advocate of LGBT rights, you would say such a thing. Ooh….hang on a sec. Oops. My mistake.
@Adrian: well said, for leo it’s all about looking good to his EU overlords
@Adrian: well said, it’s all about leo looking good to his EU overlords
@Adrian: well said, it’s all about leo
Over a thousand species display homosexual behaviour.
Only one species displays homophobic behaviour. Our one.
An apology on behalf of the state and a full unconditional pardon for starters.
Why are comments not allowed on the leader’s questions story? Is the Journal trying to protect Leo from the people
@Dave Johnston:
Your stupidity is laughable.
Hopefully all the people imprisoned in this state for non payment of TV license fines will also be given a pardon in the future.
@Jack McGready:
seriously ??? Face palm
@James Joseph Superior Power:
Never took you for an RTE suporter James.
@Jack McGready:
Since you clearly don’t have the intellectual capacity to figure it out for yourself I’ll put it quite simply to you. whether or not you pay your TV licence is a choice. One’s sexual orientation is not a choice.
@Jack McGready: Not paying your bills and just being gay. Yeah Jack. That’s exactly the same thing. Well done. And for Jack’s next trick……
@James Joseph Superior Power:
‘whether or not you pay your TV licence is a choice’
Not if you can be imprisoned for not doing so.
@Jack McGready:
Not paying is choosing prison or the possibility of prison. Dose every thing have to be spelled out for you????
@James Joseph Superior Power:
Not a ‘choice’ if you don’t have the money.
@Jack McGready: yet the money’s there for the tv and maybe sky aswell ..
@James Joseph Superior Power: Homosexual “acts” between males was illegal, being gay wasnt illegal
@Jack McGready: there are literally zero people imprisoned in Ireland because of failure to pay their TV licence. But nice try, you muppet.
@Jack McGready:
You are either the worst troll ever or the most stupid person I have ever come across. If you can’t afford to pay your TV licence don’t choose to buy a television.
@Tim keogh:
In one sense technically you are correct. However homosexual acts just like heterosexual acts are one of the means whereby romantic love is expressed. We all have an inner need for love. Most have an inner needs to pursue romantic loving relationships. Therefore in another sense you are technically wrong. It all depends on how you look at it.
@James Joseph Superior Power:
I don’t know James, I really do feel you’re being deliberately obtuse here.
Anyway, I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt here.
@Jack McGready: Take a hike troll, your bridge is missing you
@Jack McGready:
‘I don’t know”
Just about sums you up.
I presume Dublin Castle has already been booked.
@Jack McGready:
Get a life Jack
@James Joseph Superior Power:
Seriously, lighten up James, I’m right though aren’t I?
@Jack McGready:
Do you wait around all day watching the Journal .ie for an LGBT article to troll? Seriously lighten up Jack I’m right though aren’t I.
Again get a life Jack.
@Jack McGready: ohhh poor Jack. Are the celebrations where the Catholic Church got the old Father Ted-Bishop kick still hurting. Poor babby. Shur you can have a lovely mass in Phoenix Park soon.
I’m right, I knew it.
@Jack McGready:
“I knew it” lol
You don’t even know enough to know that you know nothing.
@James Joseph Superior Power: Leo after the vote there in the election coming our way very soon – just can’t wait for my vote in the next election!!
@James Joseph Superior Power:
‘Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said the Irish government plans to mark the anniversary in some way’
Obviously you’re ruling out the possibility of any celebrations in Dublin Castle then James.
@Charliegrl80:
Good for you. Why are you telling me.
@Jack McGready:
Again I have to spell it out are you. Where did I say that there would’t be a celebration in Dublin Castle? I am Referring to your constants Snowflake whingeing about LGBT rights on almost every LGBT articles on the Journal. Just like you are all over this article.
@James Joseph Superior Power: Jack gets his kicks out of picking on minorities, and women. He’s a classic cliché. Absolutely agree with the post that the salts in the wound over the Repeal victory are still stinging him badly, he’s hurting a lot, and clearly the Marriage Referendum is still raw too! So much to enjoy witnessing his lonely meltdown!
@James Joseph Superior Power:
So now you’re saying there might possibly be a Dublin Caste celebration?
Which is what I referred to in my opening remark….so why the hell are you arguing and coming across like a triggered snowflake here?
@Jack McGready: Time heals all wounds Jackie, there there little fella *ruffles hair*
@Jack McGready:
No, that is what you said. I never even mentioned Dublin Castle. Please do try and keep up. Like I said earlier you don’t even know enough to know that you know nothing. The only snowflake here is you and your are two stupid to know it. I wasn’t arguing with you. Read back over the conversation and if you have the intellectual capacity which I doubt very much you have. You might cop on and realise that all I was doing was highlighting the homophobic agenda and you like the snowflake that you are took the bate.
To think being gay was a criminal offense here 25 years ago is nauseating. Thankfully we moved on as a society.
@Seán Ó Briain: no it wasnt ..
@Joe O’riordan: Yes it was
@Joe O’riordan: Yes it was. It was only decriminalised in 1993.
@Seán Ó Briain: No it wasn’t. Being Homosexual was NEVER illegal.
@sean o’dhubhghaill: no need to be so pedantic. Male homosexual acts were a crime, effectively making homosexuality a crime.
@Sean Ryan: Not quite. Homosexual acts were never specified or singled out. The act of sodomy was singled out as a criminal offence, as were acts of gross indecency between men (not women) in public or in private.
Sodomy may imply homosexuality in some people minds but, it might be conjectured (since I’m not speaking from any personal or first-hand experience) that not all sodomists are gay and not all gays are sodomists.
On the question of ‘gross indecency between men’, the act never specified what kind of activities men would have to engage in to constitute ‘indecency’ or, for that matter how indecent it would have had to have been for it to be ‘gross’.
That said, what is undeniable is that the laws were used to criminalise, penalise and discriminate against gay men who, unless they were sodomists, didn’t actually carry out any specified offence. They were victimised therefore.
Yeah. Everyone on here is right. Let’s do nothing else ever until very serious, but complex multi-faceted issues like homelessness are completely solved. All other government departments should just send all the staff home.
Surprise, surprise, the forefront of Leo’s agenda, while some of the woman in the laundries have died without redress or recognition.
We passed the equality act leo, should we now bow or beg everyone of a different sexuality for forgiveness.
How about concentrating on the real issues, you clown.
@Trevor Hayden: I was going to say thinly veiled but actually it’s not veiled at all.
@Trevor Hayden: Aww, does the itty bitty homophobe still smart over losing the marriage equality referendum?
@Larissa Caroline Nikolaus: What do you mean by that?
I voted yes.
Its like groundhog day with leo and his gay rights, he mentioned it at the Patrick’s day celebrations in Washington slating northern Ireland for not following suit and now this.
The homophobic card is always called up whenever he’s critized, you and the PC brigade need to cop on and realise we have bigger issues in this country like the Cervical smear issues, Homelessness and hospital waiting lists and demand more of him no matter his sexuality.
In the mould of Trudaeu and Obama, this guy is only too happy to put on a grave expression and apologise for the policy mistakes of predecessors, meanwhile shirking on the duties of the day. He must look out and see a sea of fools.
@Walt Gumball: Bigot!
Never mind a blasphemy referendum a general election is what’s needed give these caretakers the boot
@Joe Eugene Smith:
“blasphemy referendum” ???
which referendum would that be?
@James Joseph Superior Power: It’s supposedly coming up in October to repeal the ridiculous blasphemy law
Nobody has any right to apologise on someone else’s behalf. It’s meaningless. When a politician apologises, it’s usually followed by compensation. This money doesn’t exist yet, governments are writing cheques that our children and grandchildren will have to pay.
How about recognising the wrong that is being done right now? 3 years after marriage equality and same sex parent families are still fighting for proper legal recognition. Legislation has been promised for too long and still not delivered.
@Jennifer Doyle: Why not do both, recognise the wrongs done in the past and at the same time work to create a better future, these things aren’t mutually exclusive, though I fully agree and stand behind your point in regards of proper legal recognition for same sex parents
Recognising the failing justice system that failed back then for homosexuals and is failing now for all the decent people left in society. Honour those wronged in the past by making the future better for the people
@birdseye:
Where the wrongs of the past are not acknowledge history tends to repeat its self.
How about set the date for August 26th.
Then go one further and Arrest the head of the largest criminal organisation in the world on the same day. Forget about diplomatic immunity, these are crimes against humanity and should be sent to the Hague for a proper impartial trial
@Tom Jennings: Moron
These comments sections are gas
The way forward
Fantastic news
Excellent!
Yes there are problems with homelessness, scandals and injustices that do need to be addressed and worked on, but this event is something that will affect a great many people in a positive way. This is a good thing Leo is doing that will make an impact that maybe not every member of society can understand or appreciate. Why ruin every positive thing or boost to society by minimizing it’s significance and throwing a tantrum, I think any acknowledgement and apology for wrongs committed in Ireland is a step in the direction we should be going in.
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