Maneuvers Surrounding the Synod on Synodality

Let us note an initial observation that has already been made, notably by Bishop Rob Mutsaerts: “We can affirm today that all those who have not obtained what they wanted will complain about having been excluded. It is by nature of a formula that leads to disaster. If each person obtains what they want—which, in reality, is not possible—the disaster will be complete.”

This is the problem that already seriously threatens the German Synodal Path, and that hangs like a sword of Damocles over the Synod on Synodality. And how could it be otherwise, when it is affirmed that one must listen to “everyone! everyone!” as the Pope repeats, like a litany?

The Disappearance of a Poll Unfavorable to the Synod

As expected, the reintroduction of the female diaconate is being demanded and protests are growing. Critics reproach the Vatican for its lack of transparency. Katholisch.de reports that “several thousand users participated in a survey from the Vatican on synodality. The reactions were, however, predominantly negative.”

But, the same media outlet continues, the Vatican has withdrawn this online survey. “As the Internet portal Crux reported it, [...] in the survey, users were asked if they thought that synodality, as a path of conversion and reform, could foster the mission and participation of all the baptized. The only possible responses were ‘yes’ or ‘no’.”

According to the report, the negative response reached 88% and only 12% of responses were positive. “At that point, 6,938 people had voted on X and less than 800 on Facebook.” The survey “was supposed to last 24 hours, but it was taken down from both platforms” ten minutes before the end. According to Crux, “the Vatican synod office has not expressed its reasons for this decision.”

Petition for the Reintroduction of the Ordination of Women

According to cath.ch, “several German-speaking groups calling for reforms in the Church have signed an open letter to Pope Francis asking that the ordination of women be addressed at the Synod.” A reformist group is collecting signatures from the population for this purpose.

It is necessary “to remedy the lack of equal rights for women within the Catholic Church, particularly in what concerns admission to ordination and the occupation of important positions”: this point is “considered today as the most urgent reform,” writes the reformist movement “Reformen jetzt.”

An open letter to Pope Francis has been published, according to cath.ch. The text, entitled “For an authentic synodality: making the female priesthood a theme at the world synod,” insists that the female priesthood “must be taken seriously by the Church.” A second letter criticizes the lack of gender equality, with women being kept in an “infantile position.”

The Bishop of Fulda Speaks on the Same Subject

Katholisch.de reports that the Bishop of Fulda, Michael Gerber, is in favor of a thorough debate on the ordination of women. “We must look at things theologically: What are the arguments for and against such an ordination?” Bishop Gerber said at a roundtable discussion during the altar servers’ pilgrimage to Rome.

During the Synodal Path, Bishop Gerber was a member of the forum “Women in Service and Ministries in the Church,” and he is Vice President of the German Bishops’ Conference. He points out that, at the level of the universal Church, the ordination of women is “a highly emotional subject” and one on which “it is very difficult to communicate,” he himself objected.

And he concedes: “We risk seeing something break.” Which is a good point, but at the same time an admission of major imprudence. He concludes by expressing that he is “in favor of more women occupying decision-making positions in the Church.” This is a point that appears in the Instrumentum laboris of the next stage of the world Synod.

It should be noted that it is no longer only the female diaconate that is being demanded, but the ordination of women: a step further has been taken. The Pope’s endless delays have led to the impasse reported by Bishop Mutsaerts. Now, as he had announced, and as this site has said repeatedly, first about the German Synodal Path, then about the world Synod, the damage will be considerable: it is already too late.

Instead of promoting “the mission and participation of all the baptized,” the hierarchs are going to cause a disaster.