The Synod Wrap-Up: Who and What Won? | National Catholic Reporter

The Synod Wrap-Up: Who and What Won? | National Catholic Reporter by MSW. MGB: It is good that Synodality won the day and consensus was reached, despite what the naysayers believed.  Still, it would be more impressive if the people elected the bishops (or at least the local clergy).  A Petrine ministry is fine (although the argument can be made that Peter is in New Rome), but that does not imply Petrine authoritarianism.



It is good that the Synod was non-judgemental.  Still, it would be better if it differentiated between granting forgiveness and declaring that no sin has been committed - that prior pastoral teaching went over board in its pietousness - that the purpose of morality is not piety, it is a livable human existence.



It is good that Francis one this one against the conservatives - who should take notice of the old aphorism to never wound the king.  I would hope these Cardinals retire shortly, regarldess of age - although I don't go as far as the Archbishop of Chicago with the walking on water metaphor.  I suspect that His Holiness simply moved the fence sitters effectively.  Of course, he put the fence sitters there in the first place.  A rigged synod, of course, would have omitted the 13 cardinals who challenged the Pope.  Since the document also gives the Pope elbow room, it is hoped he goes as far as is needed and maybe a bit further.



It is good that the drafting committee found a way to change things while getting consensus and staying within current teachings.  Hopefully the Pope can provide further teachings so that the next iteration can have even more room to work toward humanizing doctrine.



Conscience is fine, but it should not be only a mitigating factor in breaking from dogma that is unworkable for the individual, but also where God speaks to us on the unworkability of dogma for everyone where that is appropriate.  The mercy should be in the commandments, which lead us to a better life rather than being a heavy yoke - heavier than the one Christ promised.  The indisoluability of marriage was originally from families who wanted their children to divorce and marry better connections.  That privileging of the married over their families is as vital today (parents still break up their kid's unions - I am living proof) and in recent stepped into where a dying gay person's partner deserved to be.  At least that bit of non-sense has stopped, both in Catholic hospital procedure and in civil law.