There has been much coverage for the last year about the next synod of bishops that will take place in October of this year. As has been mentioned before in this column, the topic that has been chosen by Pope Francis is “For a synodal Church: communion, participation and mission.”

 

As a reminder, the synod of bishops is a periodic, regularly scheduled gathering of representative bishops reflecting the Church universal. Their task is, with the help of experts, both clergy and lay, to discuss a theme chosen by the pope and give him advice. The result is typically a Post-Synodal Letter issued by the pope to the Church on that same theme.

 

In this case, Pope Francis has widened the concept of the synod. In essence, he has asked that the coming synod discuss the very process of the synod of bishops with a view of engaging the whole Church in conversation and reflection as part of the preparation for the meeting of the bishops.

 

Dioceses throughout the United States, including our own, have held listening sessions. All dioceses then forwarded the results of their consultations to the bishops conference in Washington which then formed them into a single contribution that went to the Vatican.

 

Different bishops’ conferences in the same geographical areas were then asked to consult together on the theme. In our case the Church in the United States has held what was called a continental consultation with Canada and those results will also be forwarded to Rome.

 

This undertaking has not been without controversy, much of which has been chronicled in the Catholic media and elsewhere. That controversy is important for us to be aware of since it calls for an understanding of our faith and our need to witness to it.

 

Perhaps most importantly, the procedure that I have outlined has made it challenging to remain focused on the task that Pope Francis has laid out for the synod. What the Holy Father asked for was a discussion at all levels not on what the Church believes, holds and practices as its faith. That comes from Christ Himself and cannot be changed. Instead, the pope’s question was how to deepen the communion, the participation of the faithful and the carrying out of the mission given to the Church by Christ.

 

The controversy that has emerged flows from the misunderstanding or even the deliberate efforts by some to use this consultation as an opportunity and a means to once again assail Church doctrines and teachings that are settled by the teaching of the Magisterium and by the constant faith of the Church through the centuries. 

 

Many of the challenges relate to the usual issues of contention in our day around matters of sexuality. Our Catholic faith reflects the teaching of the Scriptures and of Christ Himself that in creation, God has made the human race by gifting each of us as being male or female. On this basis the divine plan joins man and woman in a perpetual and exclusive relationship of marriage which is one of the sacraments instituted by Christ. 

 

Marriage alone is the context where sexual acts are intended by God. Pope Francis reiterated exactly this just two weeks ago when he reminded us of the Church’s teaching that “every sexual act outside of marriage is a sin.”

 

In contrast to this constant moral teaching, the German synod has openly sought to revise and “update” the Church’s faith about this sacred gift of sexuality. So too, have various cardinals including a synod official, Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich of Luxembourg, and recently Cardinal Robert McElroy of San Diego.

 

What is at issue here is fidelity but also charity. The constant teaching of the Catholic Church is guided by the Holy Spirit. That is why we have confidence in our Catholic faith. At the same time, our witness helps us to fulfill Jesus’s constant call for repentance by all sinners. We would fail in charity with sinners and those who have lost their way if we do not give to them the saving word of Jesus Christ who died for us.

 

Now is a time for us to renew our own conviction for the faith of the Church that has been entrusted to us. We should not be misled or intimidated by discordant voices. We can trust that Christ, through the Holy Spirit, has always spoken through the Church and will continue to do so. No consultation or synod can alter that life-giving reality.