Who is Cynthia Bailey Manns? Archbishop Hebda’s Hand-Picked Delegate to the Synod on Synodality
Cynthia Bailey Manns, one of the original members of the Lay Advisory Board that advises Archbishop Bernard Hebda and adult learning director at St. Joan of Arc in Minneapolis, is one of 10 non-bishop voting delegates chosen by Pope Francis to represent the North American region at the first general assembly of the Synod of Bishops on Synodality in October. The delegates were announced July 7 at a Vatican news conference.
Bishops appointed to attend include Bishop Robert Barron of the Winona-Rochester diocese.
The theme of the Oct. 4-29 synod in Rome is For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation and Mission. Synod members are being asked to continue a “process of spiritual discernment” that was begun in 2021 and will continue with a second synod assembly in October 2024.
Bailey Manns, 65, said she is humbled and excited about the prospect of experiencing the Holy Spirit “as we do this sacred work of vulnerable sharing, deep listening and discernment regarding important issues impacting us individually and collectively.”
For Bailey Manns, the work has included being one of six archdiocesan representatives in the continental phase of the pre-synod preparations. That stage spanned the globe and produced seven continental reports submitted to the Holy See in March. For its part, the United States and Canada held 12 virtual assemblies — seven in English, three in Spanish and two in French — between December 2022 and January 2023. Those assemblies included 931 appointed delegates and 146 bishops.
In a statement July 7, Archbishop Hebda said,
“Pope Francis has honored our Archdiocese with the appointment of Dr. Cynthia Bailey Manns as one of the voting participants at the Vatican’s Synod on Synodality, beginning this October. … I have come to know and respect her for her significant contribution as one of the original members of the Archdiocesan Lay Advisory Board constituted in 2018. Not surprising for someone with years of experience in parish ministry and spiritual direction, Dr. Bailey Manns is a superb listener and articulate dialogue partner, skills that will serve her well at the Synod.”
"Bailey Manns, 65, said she is humbled and excited about the prospect of experiencing the Holy Spirit." By the mere fact that she thinks she will experience the Holy Spirit, she should be disqualified. This is the error of Illuminism, which has haunted the Church since the time of the Montanists. A dictionary definition: belief in or proclamation of a special personal enlightenment.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Anonymous. That was the first thing I noticed: she automatically assumed that 'the spirit' will be present, in part by her presence among the rest of the group. It is obvious why Francis chose her.
ReplyDeleteGordon Bennett! There needs to be a health warning at the start of this video.
ReplyDeleteSimply vomit-inducing.
If this is the future of Catholicism then good riddance to it! I'm off.
Shame on you all for your comments about Cynthia. You do not know her and your unkindness is no reflection of the invitation of Jesus example and how we are to treat each other. And being critical of the presence of the Spirit, are you also a doubter of God’s presence in this process that is going to take place? If Jesus came today how would you be recognized? It is also curious that whoever you are is unwilling to be named…. Hiding does not seem to be courageous. God’s invitation to be his presence in the world we live in is open to all of us.
DeleteAnon commenting on Anon. Pot, kettle, black, calling.
ReplyDeleteOh dear. Having just watched the video and having to turn it off a couple of minutes in I can only conclude that the Catholic Church is in severe trouble. The vandals are not only at the gates, they’ve breached the walls and are in the citadel.
ReplyDeleteWhich spirit...I think it the zeitgheist as they "Still loyal to the world by their actions, they clearly lie to God... Their law is what they like to do, whatever strikes their fancy. Anything they believe in and choose, they call holy; anything they dislike, they consider forbidden."
ReplyDeletePlenty of listening. Plenty of walking together. What's not for PF to like?
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