Whatever the opposition, something irreversible happened at the synod

Frank discussions on how the Church can support families led to the production of the mid-way point text – the relatio – that proposed a dramatically new approach to the way the Church might support gay Catholics, cohabiting couples and those in civil marriages.

Crucially, the document used new language that did not spell out where people are going wrong but looks to build on the good already present. As the document puts it, the Church needs to find the “seeds of the Word that have spread beyond its visible and sacramental boundaries.”

This is the theology of the Second Vatican Council – the 1962-65 gathering that put the Church on a path to reform and renewal – and after the mid-point relatio was released we were told that the Synod Fathers felt inspired by the spirit of the Council.

Since then we’ve seen a backlash from some senior figures such as Cardinals Burke and Pell, and have been told that the document will be revised.

This is also strikingly similar to what happened at Vatican II, when conservatives and progressives fought over what should appear in the council’s documents.

Compromises will be made and the final relatio of the synod will have different language. You can argue that this is necessary. But how can a full-scale reversal take place, given that the relatio was presented as an authentic reflection of the Synod Fathers’ discussions?

There was even applause in the synod hall after the text was read out to participants.

What happened on Monday was a dramatic moment, a point when the Church adopted new language to talk about the beauty of marriage while demonstrating, as one cardinal put it, “maternal love” to those who have failed to live up to the ideal.

It’s hard to see how the synod can go back on that.

Christopher Lamb is The Tablet's Assistant Editor (Home News)