Synod Questions and Answers

The blue suit said it all. When Sr. Nathalie Becquart addressed the vast audience gathered by New Ways Ministry, she wore a blue suit. Immediately, there was no clerical barrier confronting those who might be less receptive yet who had decided to participate. When she spoke to Global Sisters Report, she was more casually dressed, in what seemed to be a navy-blue suit and open collar light blue shirt. Neither time did she wear her usual black suit and white blouse, which reminds me of clerical dress. I am conscious of the irony of commenting on the appearance of a woman in public life, something that I have found so objectionable in the past, and yet I applaud anyone aware of how her self-presentation might affect her audience. 

Becquart’s talks on Zoom were different, and each can now be accessed online. The two venues seem at the opposite ends of the church continuum. We could debate what group is  more marginalized, but I’d have to say that the LGBTQ population gathered by New Ways Ministry is at the far edge. And if we are going to ask who’s at the heart of the church, I think we’d say Sisters. She alluded to speaking to various groups around the world, but these are the only two I’ve been invited to in the US.

Her lecture to New Ways was enthusiastic, encouraging participation at every turn. She began with a photo of Pope Francis with his hand cupped to his ear as she explained that a Synodal church is a listening church. She asked participants to put one word that imaged the Synod in the chat—and then scrolled through to read aloud these “flowers” in their diversity. “You are all in it now!” “You Matter” was the theme of a lovely video from India that she shared. Clearly a person who understands media. 

Soline Humbert’s questioning of who are the center and who the margins has left me very aware of a possible hierarchical bias, and it certainly is there in the structure of this process, which Becquart did not explain here. She stressed instead “journeying together with the entire human family,” “dialoging with those who are different,” “reversing the pyramid,” “leaving the style of leaders and followers.” I could keep listing things like this. She presented the Trinity as a model of the mystery of communion that listening to each other in the Synod could be. Listening deeply to the Holy Spirit could build a culture of consensus that calls the Church to move forward. 

Executive Director Frank DeBernado condensed the hundreds of chat questions into six and she gamely answered them: 

1. How can we trust we will be heard this time? The Synod fathers (!) have faced the reality that the Church has failed. The path has begun and will continue if you contribute. 
2. What would she advise when local bishops are not doing anything? 80% in US have done something, but write to the USCCB Synod team for resources.
3. How will the Synod consensus be maintained after 2023? Other Synods like the Amazon (to which she frequently referred) are continuing, and we must expect “a new way not written in advance.”
4. How to engage those who have experienced a lifetime of rejection? Pope Francis is “doing it every day” – meeting with the LGBTQ community. Emmaus is an important image of Jesus, and reconciliation has been proved possible in many settings. The Holy Spirit opens ways, even as pain is recognized. 
5. DeBernardo noted that the first Vatican official to address a LGBTQ audience is a woman. Do you see the possibility for an expanded role of women as leaders? The church is already on that road and “myself—I am just a small piece in a long chain.” “Men are also calling for that, up to the Pope, but we are coming from many centuries of patriarchialism.”
6. What are the best practices that she has seen around the globe? Reaching out to the marginalized like those in prisons, migrants and refugees in camps, even including Muslims. There’s “a lot of creativity in a style of closeness.”

I emphasize these questions with unscripted answers; the whole talk was a great introduction to Synods and well worth listening to. Best biographical fact: as a leader of youth ministry in France she hosted sailing retreats. Maybe she can take hold of the Barque of Peter? No such joke was made.

The Global Sisters Report format was an unscripted dialogue by Becquart and Sr. Maria Cimperman, who is on the panel coordinating responses from religious around the world.  Editor Gail DeGeorge and Synod reporter Dan Stockman asked questions submitted in advance. It was assumed that listeners had some basic knowledge. 

1. As the highest-ranking woman in the Vatican, will she have a vote in the Synod? Is she being heard now and will she be heard in the Synod? Why has the name been changed from “Synod of Bishops” to just “The Synod”? Becquart noted that six of the fourteen on the team leading the Synod were religious women, and said she’d been thinking of her own role as “the midwife of Synodality.” As a religious, she is not a cleric, and the name change reflects that it’s the whole church joining in the Synod. Her role makes her a member of the Synod with a vote, but her personal vote is not as important as having everyone participate in forming the consensus.

2.  As a member of the panel distilling the responses of 800,000 religious men and women around the world, Cimperman will hear from 2000 congregations.  How is that possible to digest? Religious have been following discernment processes that do just that for years. She urged religious to get involved with the laity wherever they work, like  universities and parishes, to blend their voices in the process there as well.  

3. What about the voices hierarchy doesn’t usually hear from? Becquart gave several examples of “those who feel themselves at the margins,” noting in this talk the powerful experience of listening to youth at that Synod, and that African Americans in the US have not been listened to.  Don’t give up; continue in spirit of dialogue. Everyone has to share what they feel is coming from the Spirit. 

4. Most women and women religious want women’s ordination. What theological grounds does the church stand on?  Becquart hesitated and then said that this has also been raised by the last two Synods, on Youth and the Amazon. “Many want this,” but there are “different views.” Nothing is set in advance, and doing the journey is transformative. Women’s voices in the church are important for decision-making and now it is possible for lay women and men to lead dicasteries in the Vatican, as leadership is disconnected from ordination.  She stressed the teamwork of men and women in pastoral work, with Bishops as collaborative leaders. Those in religious life have experienced this model. 

5. Is this a call to transform religious life? Cimperman says yes, especially in structures in need of conversion like the formation ministry and the vow of obedience. “Who do we love” in our “consecrated celibacy,” she asked. “Nothing holds us back from trying things now,” and religious have much to offer the church.

6. Is there a risk that the church might become a democracy and doctrine goes out the window? How do we walk together? Becquart said we have in mind a political document, but the result of a Synod is not that. It’s doing the will of God, inspired by the Spirit. Listening and prayer. We are not the church of the Middle Ages or the 19^th century; it is a complex world now. From pastors to Pope, the call is to serve, and all have to be part of a church on the move, in an ongoing discernment. Everyone needs to express their fears and hopes. Cimperman reminded listeners that a response is an act of hope, not shallow optimism. Pope John XXIII did not see the end of Vatican II. 

I’m going to cut this short as GSR didn’t. There was an interesting request in the chat to articulate a theological role of women in the church; otherwise, a subtle patriarchy is maintained. 

I did go to a listening session in a Philadelphia parish last Saturday. It was indeed listening, in small groups writing down consensus and disagreement about three topics:

1. Joys and concerns about the church from the people of God. What fills you with each?
2. Listening aspect of the church. When and how has the Church encouraged you to speak up? How does the church listen to you or hear what you’re saying?
3. Accompaniment/Journey. How can the church help you and others to grow in your relationship with Jesus and with the church? What can the church do to support people on their faith journeys? 

The facilitator was very professional, an outside consultant from Atlanta, with only the agenda of encouraging us to share honestly and listen to each other. I trusted her to synthesize our group papers fairly. 

A former parish secretary from a city parish with changing demographics said “I’m so glad you’re at my table! I really wanted to meet people at the margins who were welcomed to come.” Like the others in my group, she knew what the Synod was about. I felt supported in mentioning women’s ordination, and all agreed that women’s role in the church had to change. Each had a deep commitment to the church. Though they were different from each other in every way, they cared enough to come out early Saturday morning and listen to each other.