Synod announces ‘permanent forum’ on synodality

March 15, 2024

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CWN Editor's Note: The General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops has announced that it will “activate a ‘permanent forum’ to deepen the theological, canonical, pastoral, spiritual and communicative aspects of the Church’s synodality.”

“In carrying out this task, it will be assisted by the International Theological Commission and by a canonical Commission established at the service of the Synod in agreement with the Dicastery for Legislative Texts,” stated the Secretariat, led by Cardinal Mario Grech.

The announcement came in “How to be a synodal Church on mission?”—one of three texts related to the Synod released on March 14. This document is subtitled “Five perspectives for theological exploration in view of the Second Session of the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops.”

Two other texts related to the Synod were released on March 14: a letter of Pope Francis, dated February 22, to Cardinal Grech on synodal study groups (CWN overview); and an accompanying document of the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops, entitled “Study Groups for questions raised in the First Session of the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops to be explored in collaboration with the Dicasteries of the Roman Curia.”

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• Posted by: Randal Mandock - Mar. 16, 2024 11:04 AM ET USA

  If anyone had any doubt that the intent of the lay-episcopal synod on synodality was to make it a permanent expression of the spurious "spirit of Vatican II", his doubt can now be eliminated. Germany laid the groundwork for this permanent lay-episcopal structural "reform" through its landmark "synodal way", which the Vatican never took issue with in a concrete way. This makes sense for a Church in decline, a Church with decreasing vocations, a new kind of church. The poorly-formed are taking ove