Grassroots shadow synod among
alternatives to bishops meeting
By JOHN L. ALLEN JR.
Rome
When the approximately 245 bishops who make up the Sept. 30-Oct.
27 Synod of Bishops meet, they will hear the voice of the laity both inside the
synod and out.
During synod sessions, the laity will be represented by 23 lay
auditors handpicked by John Paul II.
These auditors, however, tend to be carefully screened so that
certain points of view, even some widely held among lay Catholics, go
unspoken.
But if dissident ideas are kept out of the Paul VI Synod Hall,
theyre likely to be audible in the immediate neighborhood. Progressive
Catholic groups are planning news conferences, a shadow synod and even a bit of
street theater in order to present their issues in Rome during the four weeks
the synod will meet.
This session of the synod, the 20th since the institution was
created after the Second Vatican Council (1962-65), is dedicated to the role of
the bishop. The synods purpose is to advise the pope on topics of
concern.
By far the most ambitious grassroots undertaking is the
Synod of the People of God, sponsored by a loose coalition of
dozens of reform groups and movements, primarily European but with
participation from every continent.
Termed by organizers a shadow synod, the event will
take place in Rome Oct. 4-7. It will be held at the Theological University of
the Waldensian Church near Piazza Cavour, a 10 minute-walk from the
Vatican.
Approximately 30 delegates representing the six continents are
expected to attend, with others following the proceedings on a Web site
(www.shadow-synod.net).
The goal is to sort through input on the role of the bishop
collected through the Web site and from various organizations, and then to
produce a set of recommendations to the bishops at the synod. Individuals may
provide input by answering a series of questions about the role of the bishop
on the Web site.
The shadow synod will open with a news conference Oct. 4, and
conclude with another session with the media. Organizers are also considering
various options for presenting their conclusions to the bishops.
The shadow synod will feature prayer services in tandem with base
communities associated with the Basilica of St. Pauls Outside the
Walls.
At the extraordinary consistory of cardinals in Rome May 21-24,
organizers for the shadow synod presented a seven-point set of recommendations.
They included:
- More liberty for local churches;
- More involvement of bishops in governing the universal church;
- Expanding the authority of bishops conferences;
- Local election of bishops;
- Reform of the Roman curia and strengthening the Synod of
Bishops;
- Restoration of the requirement for a two-thirds vote in the
election of a pope;
- More freedom for theologians.
It is likely that these points will also figure prominently in the
recommendations of the shadow synod.
All sessions of the shadow synod will be open to the public.
The bishops synod will be closed, but we have to be
different, organizer Christian Weisner of Germany told NCR.
Organizers said Sept. 11 that at least eight delegates from the
United States will attend.
Advocates of womens ordination, meanwhile, are taking a more
nontraditional approach to grabbing attention during the synod. Rome-based
activist Julia Hillebrand, who helps to coordinate activities for Womens
Ordination Worldwide, told NCR that she hopes to avoid big
politics, concentrating instead on a festive approach.
To that end, she said possible activities include a discussion
night at a womens bookstore in the popular Roman neighborhood of
Trastevere, or deploying a team of street clowns, jugglers and mimes in order
to gather crowds to whom literature on womens ordination could be
distributed.
Finally, the issue of sexual abuse of religious women in Africa
and elsewhere, first reported in March by the National Catholic
Reporter, is to be raised in a news conference organized by the
pro-reproductive rights group Catholics for a Free Choice Oct. 15. The group
has been leading a Call for Accountability campaign in response to
the revelations, demanding that church leaders take steps to protect the human
rights of religious women.
John L. Allen Jr. is NCR Rome correspondent. His e-mail
address is jallen@natcath.org
National Catholic Reporter, September 28,
2001
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