Does the Vatican's survey on the big issues show that Rome is really listening?

As part of Pope Francis' more collaborative and consultative style, the Vatican is now conducting a worldwide survey on how parishes and deaneries deal with sensitive issues such as birth control, divorce, and gay marriage, seeking input ahead of a synod, or meeting of bishops, about the family that Pope Francis plans for October 2014 which will then be followed by a general synod in 2015. The survey was sent out in mid-October to every national conference of bishops with a request from the Vatican co-ordinator, Archbishop Lorenzo Baldisseri, to 'share it immediately and as widely as possible to deaneries (or pastoral areas) and parishes so that input from local sources can be received'. The survey reflects Pope Francis's pledge to move away from what he called a 'Vatican-centric' approach towards one in which local church leaders are more involved in decision-making.

Among the questions asked in the Vatican survey are whether gay marriage is recognised in their respective countries and how priests minister to same-sex couples, including how churches can respond when gays seek a religious education or Holy Communion for their children. The survey also asks, 'How is God's mercy proclaimed' to separated couples and those who are divorced and remarried. Additional information is sought on the pastoral care of men and women who live together outside marriage. The survey also asks parishes whether they believe married men and women tend to follow church teaching barring the use of artificial contraception.

Catholics have welcomed this first ever Vatican survey of opinions in the Church and many are currently completing it. However, there are some criticisms of it for its unprofessional drafting, which has led to it containing pre-suppositions and an approved mindset in the questions. ('In the current generational crisis, how have Christian families been able to fulfil their vocation of transmitting the faith?') It also appears to be directed more at the clergy rather than to the People of God as a whole; I think that some people in the pew might have difficulty with references to 'Gaudium et Spes, Familiaris Consortio and other documents of the post-conciliar Magisterium'. In addition, there is a lack of any mechanism for the laity to consult with each other on such matters, and respondents have only been given until 30 November to send it in. In my view, parish priests should consult with their congregations before they fill in the survey, and lay people could meet to formulate their response to the survey together. This would improve a sensus fidelium (sense of faith) among the People of God.

Although a first for the Vatican, this is not the first time such a consultation has been carried out in England and Wales. In 1980, 2,000 bishops, clergy, religious, and laity attended a National Pastoral Congress in Liverpool, which was led by Archbishop Derek Worlock and supported by Cardinal Basil Hume. The Congress discussed and deliberated on issues and topics that the gathering agreed were of particular relevance and concern to lay Catholics at that time. Seven reports were prepared by committees and then approved in plenary session, covering such issues as the admission of divorced or remarried Catholics to the sacraments, the admission of non-Catholics to communion, artificial birth control, social justice, and the ordination of women. The results of these deliberations, which adopted a mainly liberal position, were drawn together in a document entitled 'The Easter People' and submitted to Rome. Unfortunately, Pope John Paul II publicly rejected this document. The bishops' conference website does not carry a copy of 'The Easter People' and its burying is interesting to note. There has not been another National Pastoral Congress since but it would be good if our bishops were to dig out and reread 'The Easter People' as preparation for the above-mentioned synods.

You can read the survey here.