Archbishop Coleridge: Pope Wants to Make Synodality 'a Permanent Feature' of the Church’s Life

[gilliam]

"Poe Francis is a fascinating combination of a man in a hurry and a man who takes his time,” Archbishop Mark Coleridge told me in this interview for America.

At the synod he said he was deeply impressed not only by the pope’s inner peace and tranquility but also by his determination to make synodality become “a permanent feature of the life of the whole church and not just an occasional feature of episcopal life.” He considers this and the way Francis sees “episcopal collegiality within the synodality of the whole church” as of utmost importance, and believes this can have major implications for the church in the coming years.

He rejects a doctrinal approach that’s not connected with the real lives of people, but is convinced there’s much room for “pastoral creativity” in this field.

He insists that the church “has got to use language that people understand,” but today she often uses “words and images” that has led to a point “where at best we’re regarded as irrelevant in Western cultures, at worst, and in some segments, we would be regarded as almost demonic.”

americamagazine.org/content/dispatches/blogging-archbishop-mark-coleridge-pope-wants-make-synodality-permanent-feature

 

[Bob_Crowley]

Archbishop Coleridge is our Archbishop (Brisbane Diocese). I can’t say I know him, and the closest I’ve got to him was to attend a day and a half teaching session on Scripture last year at the Australian Catholic Univeristy in Brisbane. He’s a good teacher, and he has a doctorate in Luke.

However I did bump into someone recently (can’t remember where) who knew him a lot better and she remarked he’s got a real gift for language. A hint of this came at the teaching session last year when he remarked at one stage (as he attempted to point out the different levels of Greek text in the New Testament, depending on the writer) that he himself “spoke fluent Italian, but wrote ‘schoolboy’ Italian”.

So the high level of language in the interview didn’t surprise me, and the following paragraph wasn’t really a surprise either, given his ability with language -

In actual fact, I believe that there’s an enormous scope beyond that for what I call pastoral creativity, and some of it at least is at the point of language.

.

As to the synod, I didn’t follow it, as I’d rather just wait for the practical results to filter down. I suppose as an ex-Protestant, I’m a bit cynical about the slow pace of Catholic changes. We’ve been talking about the “New Evangelism” for some time now, but at the risk of sounding critical, I haven’t seen much actually happening.

Or to put it this way, I’ll believe it (changes) when I see it.

 

[dans0622]

What is the definition of “synodality”? I must admit that I never heard the word until a couple weeks ago.

Dan

 

[DesertSister62]

What is the definition of “synodality”? I must admit that I never heard the word until a couple weeks ago.

Dan

**
cvcomment.org/2013/08/28/synodality-collegiality-two-keys-to-the-coming-francis-reform/

There are two words, heavily laden with canonical and theological significance, which you can expect to hear often in the coming months: ‘collegiality’ and ‘synodality’. Although they are older than the Second Vatican Council, they are strongly linked to it.

Collegiality refers to the Pope governing the Church in collaboration with the bishops of the local Churches, respecting their proper autonomy.

Synodality is the practical expression of the participation of the local Church in the governance of the universal Church, through deliberative bodies.

Both have been arenas of sometimes intense disagreement in the past decades.

Click on the link above to read a more indepth discussion of the terms
**

 

[kozlosap]

“pastoral creativity”…“synodality”…“collegiality”…nice!

Yes!

The pope is right to keep dialogue an ongoing process and to attempt to connect with people in a language they will hear and understand.

.

I agree wholeheartedly - we need open communication to stay at the front and center of our faith, or we will be faced with another eon of legalistic stress instead of living by and following the Gospels. I picture Jabba the Hut sitting on his pillow and saying NO NO NO to everything he it’s asked!

 

[dans0622]

…
Synodality is the practical expression of the participation of the local Church in the governance of the universal Church, through deliberative bodies. …

Thanks. The only such “deliberative body” is an ecumenical council. I don’t see how that can ever change. *Consultative *bodies can be otherwise, like the modern “synod of bishops.”

Dan

 

[Joie_de_Vivre]

Sounds like Conciliarism is making a comeback.

 

[twf]

Thanks. The only such “deliberative body” is an ecumenical council. I don’t see how that can ever change. *Consultative *bodies can be otherwise, like the modern “synod of bishops.”

Dan

Why? For many centuries, the majority of Church history in fact, going back to the earliest centuries, local Synods were routinely convened and had real, binding authority. In fact, this model is still the norm in the Eastern Catholic Churches which are governed by Synods with real authority.

But yes, at the universal level, traditionally only ecumenical councils ratified by the Bishop of Rome have binding authority.

 

[Genesis315]

Yeah, local synods can have real authority and traditionally have, but that authority is never absolutely final, but always subject to appeal to or correction from the Apostolic See. Such synods are already provided for in canon law. Bishops’ Conferences, on the other hand, while superficially similar, are really a whole different animal.

The key, however, is the Pope still needs to do his job, which is to serve unity. If local synods depart from the unity of faith, or when the unity or integrity of the Church and the faith requires uniform discipline, then he needs to take action.

 

[dans0622]

Why? For many centuries, the majority of Church history in fact, going back to the earliest centuries, local Synods were routinely convened and had real, binding authority. In fact, this model is still the norm in the Eastern Catholic Churches which are governed by Synods with real authority.

But yes, at the universal level, traditionally only ecumenical councils ratified by the Bishop of Rome have binding authority.

Hello,

Right. I am talking about “deliberation” on the universal level. Plenary/provincial councils (the current, Latin terms for the old, local synods) are good. I recall Bishop Burke, back in the day, suggesting a plenary council for the USA to deal with the abuse problem. I thought it was a good idea but not many bishops did.

In general, I’d be all in favor of occasional, local synods (councils) but the newfangled Conferences of Bishops seems to have eliminated the need for them.

Dan

 

[LongingSoul]

Archbishop Coleridge is our Archbishop (Brisbane Diocese). I can’t say I know him, and the closest I’ve got to him was to attend a day and a half teaching session on Scripture last year at the Australian Catholic Univeristy in Brisbane. He’s a good teacher, and he has a doctorate in Luke.

However I did bump into someone recently (can’t remember where) who knew him a lot better and she remarked he’s got a real gift for language. A hint of this came at the teaching session last year when he remarked at one stage (as he attempted to point out the different levels of Greek text in the New Testament, depending on the writer) that he himself “spoke fluent Italian, but wrote ‘schoolboy’ Italian”.

So the high level of language in the interview didn’t surprise me, and the following paragraph wasn’t really a surprise either, given his ability with language - .

As to the synod, I didn’t follow it, as I’d rather just wait for the practical results to filter down. I suppose as an ex-Protestant, I’m a bit cynical about the slow pace of Catholic changes. We’ve been talking about the “New Evangelism” for some time now, but at the risk of sounding critical, I haven’t seen much actually happening.

Or to put it this way, I’ll believe it (changes) when I see it.

Bob, I’m from Brisbane diocese too so having Bishop Mark so visibe at this synod has been really special for me. You are right about the slowness regarding the new evagelisation though. Pope StJpII gave it life but its been a fight to get it soaring. A cousin of mine iis a priest in one of the new orders born out of Pope StJPIIs vision so Ive been hearing snippets of info along the way. The is a strong undercurrent against change in the church even at the high levels and thats where Francis has been effective.

I’m not sure if you were Catholic in Brisbane in 2003 but we had ourfirst ever synod in the spirit of new evangelisation. It began at parish level with organised working groups that came up with clear goals and suggestions to the set questions. From there were elected reps from each parish to meet as regions of the diocese. I was priveliged to be one of my parishes reps. In thase meetings we combined to form a cosensus regarding our individual outcomes which were then taken to a 3 day long diocesan synod in the same format group discussion.

I felt familia with this synod format and its spirit as a result of that. Hopefuuly Arch Mark will do one of his videos to be played at the Sunday masses in tbe near future!

 

[LongingSoul]

Yeah, local synods can have real authority and traditionally have, but that authority is never absolutely final, but always subject to appeal to or correction from the Apostolic See. Such synods are already provided for in canon law. Bishops’ Conferences, on the other hand, while superficially similar, are really a whole different animal.

The key, however, is the Pope still needs to do his job, which is to serve unity. If local synods depart from the unity of faith, or when the unity or integrity of the Church and the faith requires uniform discipline, then he needs to take action.

Synods by tbeir nature promote unity. Its kind of mystcal in its operation in synthesising different perspectives into a pleasingly agreeable paragraph for all involved. In this synod there was the Pope steppjng in practically only to ensure that the two issues stayed on the agenda even though not receiving the required votes. That’s where the authority of the Pope can push back against non synodal forces like hostle inflexibility.