Synodality

Thank you.

Well, I want to begin, Randall, by just very honestly looking at the elephant in the room, and that has to do with the Synod on Synodality and its promises about becoming more of a listening church.

Now, I know you opened this piece by talking about Gaudium et Spes in its quote, but But just share with us the intent of the Synod on Synodality, what it has actually accomplished, and where is it going now? Wow,

that's a tough question.

You know, the truth is, I'm not sure, to be honest with you, in terms of this issue, right? So, in other words, the question you asked is asked in the context of that passage from you know, in language intelligible to each generation, speaking, right? I mean, proclaiming the Word of God, proclaiming the Gospel.

I mean, we have to talk about the same Lord Jesus Christ in all circumstances, but we wouldn't necessarily make the same approach.

in all those circumstances.

And we certainly, when you read some of the reports out of the groups from the Synod, the Synod on Synodality Working Groups, the language they use is language that nobody uses.

Diane Montagna is a pretty serious Catholic journalist.

She's the one who was at these Synod on Synodality press conferences in the journalist press pool, asking the pointed question of Cardinals Gresh and Hollerich, the two men leading the Synod on Synodality, that got them to say on camera, you know, the phrase, New Synodal Church, where they kind of admitted that they were finishing the job of making a new religion.

So I take her very seriously.

And so I would say some careful discernment here for this story, and please pray that the truth emerge on this, and that if this priest here is innocent, well, you'll see.

They call it the New Synodal Church.

They said so on camera multiple times when Diane Montagna was in the press pool during the Synod on Synodality.

They called it the New Synodal Church.

They keep using the language of conversion of the church.

You know, and, you know, just even how we have confession, the sacrament of reconciliation, we have tools already to move forward.

You know, synodality, I mean, you know, this idea of encountering one another, listening to one another, really hearing and talking to one another.

You know, we have the tools already here.

Let's use them.

He was also granted a papal dispensation from wearing cardinalatial dress and retain his simple Dominican habit.

Cardinal Radcliffe is a prolific author, having published 10 books on Christian spirituality, which have appeared in 24 languages, and has led countless retreats, notably the preparatory retreat for the Synod on Synodality in 2024.

In his interview, he reflects on his more than 60 years as Dominican and 55 years as a priest.

And he goes on to talk about a lot of that, you know, kind of that stuff.

Many people fear that synodality will lead to the rejection of the Church's tradition, but that is not all its purpose.

It is not about conforming to modernity, but about becoming truly encount- truly counter-cultural, opposed to a contemporary culture which sees human beings as consumers.

Synodality invites us to see each other as made in the image and likeness of God, each given a share in the Spirit and a word to share.

Some priests fear that if they give authority to the laity, they will lose their own authority, but the opposite is the case.

I think, even though you had to read between the lines, I think what the Lord is getting at is that the will of God The truth of God that I'm called to recognize, the truth of God that I'm called to correspond to, is best discovered in community, in communication, in relationship, as opposed to the isolation of my mind and heart.

It touches on the notion of synodality.

Synodality is this really important principle when it comes to Christian community.

Synodality, what it means is a certain walking together, a certain journey together.

And it presumes that the truth can be discovered.

It presumes that the truth exists.