SYNODALITY



So the Youth Synod is finally over (thank God). It is already widely being dubbed "The Smuggler Synod"
The smuggling began in the Synod’s preparatory phase. A “pre-Synod” meeting of young people in March 2018 was thoroughly rigged, according to the accounts of some brave souls who were there because the Synod managers either misidentified them or wanted them as cover. Working sessions were conducted long into the night, the goal being to get inserted into the meeting’s final document a number of progressive Catholic approaches to human sexuality. One discussion group leader banned an opening prayer before the group’s meetings – what had been proposed was a joint recitation of the Lord’s Prayer, the Hail Mary, and the Doxology – saying that this might make the non-Catholics present uncomfortable. The Synod managers and the new Dicastery for Laity, Family, and Life trumpeted this meeting as a great advance in “listening;” it was an exercise in manipulation and spin.
And it looks to everyone like the real winners were ze rich Germanz
Despite all this, Catholics do get it. If anything, more and more Catholics are getting it. Catholics get it because they are driven by a relationship with Jesus Christ and their motivation is to cleave ever more closely to Him.

Brian gets it! (see video below).

The Cardinals and bishops at the Synod DO NOT GET IT.

Don't affirm them in their awfulness, don't compromise Christ's message in order to attract people to Christ's message this is simply an act of futility!

What we have seen has been really disappointing. An abandonment of the path of faith and reason and a shameless descent into sentimentalism and politicking.
Pro-Francis Cardinals have literally deified Francis, calling him the successor of Christ. Other Cardinals timidly question the validity of the changes he is making and the reasoning behind the synod's topicality, material and purpose.
Meanwhile, the mainstream media is reporting Francis' persistent attacks on Archbishop Vigano from the pulpit as him rallying the faithful to launch attacks on those who ask genuine questions about the Church's accountability in cases of abuse: not a good look!

When you pander to young people it provokes a reaction of cynicism. The synod is the Church hiding behind a facade of relatability. How this ended up was in a failed attempt to project young people's characteristics back at them - how is that possibly attractive to young people? Simply trying to be relevant by joining in with what young people are doing and saying. Any parent will tell you this strategy NEVER works.
When you pander to someone in this way, you demean them. Anyone with a shred of authenticity will simply write this off as a cynical ploy.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Bishop John Arnold - "A Nasty Little Bully"

Image
Pat Buckley has posted  a letter from a Salford priest giving the low down on what is going on in that diocese. I think it is really important because it is a report from the diocese, but also because if you pay attention to communications from the CCBEW you would think Bishop Arnold is the best bishop in the country! This despite the fact he is clearly seriously at odds with much of the Catholic faith and overly concerned with issues best described as mission creep. He advised the Catenian Association to drop "practicing Catholic" from its statutes and is obsessed with CAFOD and climate change, issues which might seem trendy, but in reality only diminish the Gospel. Arnold is chairman of CAFOD and approved the appointment of the current director who is clearly at odds with Catholic teaching . He also loves an "LGBTQI+ Mass" - more on some of that stuff here . To me he epitomises so many of the bishops: he likes the trappings and power but is very uncomfortable wit
Read more

Real Life Catholics on BBC TV defend Church Teaching on Contraception.

Image
This morning on BBC TV Sunday Morning Live there was a good debate inspired by Melinda Gates (who identifies as Catholic) comments about the pope potentially changing doctrine on contraception. The Catholic contributors were Fr Paddy McCafferty, Clare Short and Obianuju Ekeocha. I think they did really well. Uju's direction is very interesting and easily wrong foots those who want to impose western ideas of morality on Africans in an imperialistic way. Interesting that the presenter agrees with her on this. Fr Paddy gave a great account of his experience as a priest. He was compassionate, realistic and honest, while upholding the value and importance of the doctrine. Clare said she had experience of both ways and the Catholic way is better by far. I thought that was awesome! I especially liked her focus on equality and bringing the responsibility of both husband & wife into the discussion. Watch out for the bit where the other lady says "Pope Francis has ind
Read more