Cardinal Zen Sharply Criticizes the Synod on Synodality

In a rather lengthy text, the former bishop of Hong Kong explains that he feels he “must write something to help” the faithful “to understand what is [the] most important thing to pray for in this moment.” And his chief concern is “how this Synod on ‘Synodality’ can be successfully (decently) concluded.”

Synodality

For Cardinal Zen, Synodality refers to the Synod: it is the fact of “walking together” to carry out one's mission well. It is not something to be invented or discovered. And even if the faithful are involved in evangelization, “it is the Church hierarchy that ensures the direction of the Church’s journey and preserve[s] the ‘depositum fidei’ handed down from the Apostles.”

Without naming names, the Cardinal seems to be criticizing Cardinals Jean-Claude Hollerich and Mario Grech, as well as Víctor Manuel Fernández, who “did not stress the preservation of the faith, but emphasized changes, especially changes to the Church’s structure and ethical teachings; especially [...] same-sex relations.”

Fiducia supplicans

The Bishop Emeritus of Hong Kong then returns to the Declaration Fiducia supplicans and its history: the condemnation, in 2021, by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith of the blessing of homosexual couples. The appearance of this theme in the Instrumentum laboris of the 2023 Synod session. The five cardinals' letter to the Pope in July 2023, of which he was one of the signatories.

Francis' ultra-quick response, long and convoluted, raising suspicions that it had been prepared by the Synod team. The second letter from the cardinals asking for a “yes” or “no” answer, and the absence of any response to this second letter.

A Synod Driven by a Specific Goal

Cardinal Zen acknowledges the unprecedented scope of the Synod. But for him, “it was clear that the central secretariat tightly controls the procedures: sharing is emphasized, while discussion is to be avoided.” And he adds that “The same method is used in the official Synod meetings.”

He then points out a fact—which he had already denounced—namely that “among the synod participants, there are 96 ‘non-bishops’ (equal to 26% of the whole group) who have the right to vote.” And he concludes forcefully: “Obviously, the purpose of this Synod was to overthrow the Church hierarchy and implement a democratic system.”

He insists furthermore: “The Pope has the power to convene any kind of advisory meeting. However, the Synod of Bishops initiated by Pope Paul VI was specifically designed to allow the Pope to hear the opinions of his brother bishops. With the ‘non-bishops’ voting together, it is no longer a Synod of Bishops.”

He Asks the Faithful to Pray for Three Intentions

That this new assembly will truly be a Synod of Bishops, in other words, that the bishops will fight for more votes, “at least not allowing the non-bishops to vote along with them.”

Secondly, that the Fiducia supplicans declaration, which has provoked “a great division in the Church and great confusion among the faithful," be rejected, at the request of the bishops, sine die. Because “If this issue is not resolved in the Synod, the future of the Church will be very unclear, because some clergy and friends of the Pope who insist on changing the Church tradition in this regard continue to push forward their plans with all strength.”

Finally, Cardinal Zen worries that the Synod will discuss “whether the faithful should have more rights to ‘share’ the responsibilities of the ‘pastors’ in the Hierarchy.” But also about the possibility of “individual bishops’ conferences” having “an independent authority over the doctrine of the faith.” He adds: “This is a scary prospect. If this idea succeeds, we will no longer be the Catholic Church.”