Hearing the laity
The idea that Pope Francis and the Vatican advocated canvassing the views of the faithful on issues such as same-sex marriage and divorce excited the public to such lengths that the Vatican saw a need to put a damper on expectations.

“Indeed, the African family experience requires an amplified voice at the synod to impress upon the Church that it needs to formulate responses that transcend the traditional Western model of being family — one that seems to be inexorably changing itself. ” (CNS photo/Gregory A. Shemitz)
The media highlighted in particular the decision of the bishops of England and Wales to post on the Internet for public comment a questionnaire that was sent to bishops conferences in preparation for the extraordinary session of the synod of bishops on “The pastoral challenges concerning the family in the context of evangelisation”, to be held from October 4-19, 2014.
Among the 39 questions in the preparatory document, the Vatican asks: “What questions do divorced and remarried people pose to the Church concerning the Sacraments of the Eucharist and of Reconciliation? Among those persons who find themselves in these situations, how many ask for these sacraments?”
Who is better primed to answer such questions than the laity, using a forum of communication that is open to all?
The innovation, however, was not warmly received by the synod’s relator, Hungarian Cardinal Peter Erdo, who appeared dismissive about the consultative methods of his brother bishops in Britain, as we reported last week.
To the reports which had welcomed a greater openness by the Vatican to the feelings of the faithful on family matters, Cardinal Erdo added caution: “Certainly the doctrine of the magisterium must be the basis of the common reasoning of the synod. It is not a question of public opinion.”
Clearly, the Church’s doctrines cannot be changed just because they do not accord with public opinion. But this cannot mean that the guardians of these doctrines should present themselves to be deaf to views of the laity — even less so when the Church has explicitly solicited lay input on teachings that relate directly to the experience of most lay people.
Cardinal Erdo’s comments might have been intended to diminish expectations of doctrinal change, but they also served to slap down a perception that the Church actually cares about the laity, a notion that represented a welcome departure from a sense that the hierarchy tends to ignore the views and needs of the faithful.
But the hierarchy does seem to care. The bishops of England and Wales are not alone in wishing to know the mind of all the laity. Members of the US hierarchy, which met this month in Baltimore, proposed that the idea of posting the questionnaire on the Internet was worth emulating.
Likewise, Southern African bishops have followed the Vatican’s lead by encouraging parish priests to canvas the views of the faithful so that the experience of the laity may inform the local hierarchy’s response to the synod.
Indeed, the African family experience requires an amplified voice at the synod to impress upon the Church that it needs to formulate responses that transcend the traditional Western model of being family — one that seems to be inexorably changing itself.
Unlike previous synods, next year’s speaks most directly to the daily concerns of the People of God, many of whom are looking for practical answers to their experiences and difficulties.
Most Catholic families are living with realities of divorce, family planning, homosexuality, cohabitation and so on, and look to the Church for guidance and understanding, especially when reference to doctrine offers no workable solution to complex situations. Experience has shown that when the Church fails to offer such guidance, the people tend to overrule its teachings.
Led by the Holy Spirit, the synod will need to discuss these difficulties and conflicts forthrightly.
Cardinal Erdo is correct in saying that the vox populi cannot in itself provide the reason for changing doctrines, even if the faithful have rejected these teachings. This assertion, however, must be accompanied by an acknowledgment that every law requires a practical treatment, and every canon requires a pastoral application.
The synod will be a wasted opportunity if it simply reiterates doctrines, and many Catholics will become increasingly disaffected from the Church if the synod fails to consider pastoral solutions.
Instead, the synod must candidly discuss how the Church can square its doctrines with the lived experience of the faithful — or, to put it in Francescan language, how to reconcile justice with mercy.
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