There has been no indication of a split in the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales regarding the forthcoming extraordinary synod in Rome. So the cautious endorsement by Archbishop Emeritus Kevin McDonald of Southwark of an essay by Bishop Johan Bonny of Antwerp may be a significant indication of the way the wind is blowing, and of the approach likely to be adopted by Cardinal Vincent Nichols when he represents his fellow bishops at the synod.Bishop Bonny’s analysis of the predicament faced by the Catholic Church over issues of marriage, family and sexual ethics centres on procedure, but he does not ignore the effect procedures can have on the content of doctrine. His primary concern is for the return of genuine collegiality to the way decisions are made – collegiali
11 September 2014, The Tablet
Collegial procedures bring better outcomes
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User Comments (1)
In some ways you are repeating the sentiments of your excellent Strike Out On New Paths editorial of some months ago, which called for representative diocesan and national pastoral councils.
When 40 years ago I was London University parish rep on Westminster Diocesan Pastoral Council topics such as contraception, lay involvement, catholic education, etc, were all hot topics. These annual meetings of lively parish reps were chaired by layman Bernard Bligh, from Hemel Hempstead. Cardinal Heenan and Bishop Butler were in attendance and there was a great sense of optimism that we were together involved in the work of The Lord.
These meetings were not just talk shops and among the very positive outcomes were the formation under Cardinal Hume of new diocesan structures such as five pastoral areas and the a widely representative and very much enhanced Education Commission presided over by Bishop David Konstant. The raising of age of Confirmation and it's clearer identification with parishes and families rather than schools was another very positive outcome of these meaningful engagements of clergy and laity.
As a People of God we have everything to gain from a reintroduction of genuine representative diocesan pastoral councils in those dioceses where they have fallen into abeyance.
Sadly for most Catholics here in Ireland we are a very long way from such meaningful consultation even at parish or pastoral area level. We have much to learn from other Christian churches.