Di ritorno dal Sinodo a Roma,
l’arcivescovo di Wellington (Nuova Zelanda), John Dew,
traccia un bilancio della propria esperienza sinodale, sottolineando
in particolare la trasparenza e la collegialità come elementi di
forza vissuti dai padri sinodali (http://wel-com.org.nz/).
The Extraordinary General Assembly
of the Synod of Bishops in Rome convened by Pope Francis on marriage
and family, has been a triumph for openness and discussion in the
Church. Over 200 bishops spent two weeks at the Vatican during
October discussing issues around marriage and family life. Archbishop
John reports on what he considers to have been one of the most
interesting and open Synods he has attended.
As I return from the Synod on
Marriage and the Family I’m aware that the gathering, the
discussion and the topics have caught the attention of the secular
media and that Catholic media have followed it closely. I understand
many New Zealanders have followed the discussion with hopefulness and
enthusiasm.
Shortly after Pope Francis
announced in 2013 he would be calling for a Synod on marriage and the
family, the preparatory document was released to Bishops Conferences
around the world. The document contained a set of questions about the
wide range of topics that would fall under the Synod’s heading. The
questions were for Bishops Conferences from each country to respond
to in their submissions and to form the working document for the
Synod. The New Zealand Bishops made these questions available online
to ensure wider consultation than is usually able to be conducted.
It gave people from all walks of
life, from different vocations and backgrounds, the opportunity to
anonymously, and in their own words, share their insights on these
topics, which are important to all of us. Here in New Zealand more
than 2000 people responded. Many shared deeply personal experiences,
stories of joy, of love and care, of judgement and exclusion, and
feelings of hope for our Church. We were moved and sincerely grateful
for these insights.
The response themes formed the New
Zealand Bishops submission and, as the New Zealand representative, I
carried them with me to the Synod gathering in Rome.
Over the days before leaving for
Rome I was astounded at the emails, letters and messages sent to me,
offering prayerful support to me and the Synod participants and
expressing hope and enthusiasm this discussion was taking place. This
hasn’t happened with previous Synods. But because it is about the
family and issues people are deeply concerned about it was clear to
me how important this was for people.
To open the Synod Pope Francis
called on all of us present not to be afraid, to speak boldly and
honestly, to listen with open hearts, not to leave things unsaid, to
speak with peace and calm and to trust always that the Spirit of God
is with us and that it is the Church of Jesus Christ, not ours.
Every day began with a time for
prayer and reflection. The discussion would begin with a presentation
from a married couple who were participants in the Synod. From there
Cardinals and Bishops took turns to give their ‘interventions’.
My own intervention on behalf of the New Zealand Church focussed on
the need for Church language to be changed so it gives people hope
and encouragement – to find a language that speaks the truth of the
Gospel and in a way that isn’t simply as sanctions but draws people
to God. Terms like ‘intrinsically evil’, or ‘irregular
situations’ don’t encourage people to see God present in their
lives. We can then propose what we believe the Gospel and the Church
is calling us to as an invitation; and as a calling not an
imposition.
There was quite a lot of discussion
on ‘graduality’. At times this was misunderstood with some
bishops thinking others were speaking about ‘graduality of doctrine
of faith and morals’. What they were speaking about was that we
grow gradually; we go through stages of moral growth. Graduality
recognises that none of us is perfect but that we’re all on a
journey. So what are we doing to help – or hinder – others on
that journey who are often in very difficult and complex family
situations?
The other interventions talked
about Communion for the divorced and remarried, and the impact severe
poverty has on families; particularly those parents who need to go
abroad to be able to provide for their family, which separates them.
Many bishops spoke at length about homosexuality. The very fact this
topic was being discussed so openly is a change from previous
discussions. They were genuinely trying to find a way to recognise
those who live a homosexual lifestyle, but were in no way comparing
such a union to Christian marriage.
While there was a sense of hope and
excitement and positivity in the Synod Hall, and probably by those
following the discussions from a distance, this is only the beginning
of the process. We’re not sure yet what will happen. This time
we’re not asked to vote on propositions and we need to remember
things will not change overnight. However, Pope Francis has announced
a commission to look at simplifying the annulment process and there
may be other areas that will need to be looked at as well over the
next year before the Synod reconvenes.
Change in the Church can seem slow
at times but what has been clear is this discussion is about people’s
lives and that people are hurting. And if the Church is to be a
mother that consoles, encourages reaches out, and supports it must
listen to what is emerging from the discussion.
We can all have hope in that
questions have been raised and talked about in depth and at length
with openness and readiness.
The very last presentation in the
Synod Hall, before the closing Mass on the Sunday morning, 19
October, was Pope Francis speaking. His words were welcomed with a
five-minute standing ovation and all – almost all – were saying
his words were the highlight of the Synod. I highly recommend people
to read his speech given at the end of the Synod. It is available
online and I know I will be meditating on it for a long time to come.
My experience of the Synod is one
of active collegiality. At the closing Mass Pope Francis beatified
Pope Paul VI. Fifty years ago Pope Paul VI talked about the need for
collegiality in the Church at a time of great hope and change in the
Church. And when Pope Francis was elected, some of his first words to
the world were that the Cardinals had gone to the ends of the earth
to elect a bishop of Rome. He has shown us this during this Synod by
being a bishop among brothers.
Fifty years on, we as a Church have
a lot to thank Pope Paul VI for.
November 2014
Archbishop John Dew
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