(Ed. Condon. The Pillar)
The final session of the global synod on synodality began this week in Rome, with delegates from around the world set to meet for much of the month to reflect on the multi-year series of meetings at every level of the Church
Author: Catholic Radar An
INDIA
Kerala Bishops Repeat Criticism of Award-Winning Indian LGBTQ+ Movie
(Elsie Carson. New Ways Ministry)
In India, the Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council (KCBC) has reaffirmed its opposition to same-gender relationships after a film the Council previously criticized won a major award
ITALY
Lawyer for Vatican’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’ claims firing is ‘null’ and ‘illegitimate’
A lawyer representing the Vatican’s “Romeo and Juliet,” shorthand for a young couple fired from the Vatican bank because their marriage violates a new regulation barring such relationships among employees, has filed an appeal asserting that the dismissal is “null, illegitimate and gravely damaging to the fundamental rights of persons and workers,” and thus is “devoid of any effect.”
INDIA
India advocate says discrimination against Dalit Catholics must be addressed in Synod
(Nirmala Carvalho. Crux)
As bishops around the world meet at the Vatican for the Synod on Synodality, some Catholics in India say they must address the the “draconian casteism, caste discrimination and domination prevailing historically in the Catholic Church” especially among the dominant Dalit population in the Church
THE SECOND VATICAN COUNCIL´S
Vatican II at 60: ‘Lumen Gentium’ Harks Back to Traditional Truths
(Father Joseph Thomas. National Catholic Register)
Chapter 7 of Lumen Gentium presents the Council’s teaching on some essential aspects of the Church’s teaching: judgment, the souls in purgatory, and our union with the saints in heaven
U.S.
Are LGBTQ Jews welcome in Orthodox communities? This is how they are building spaces of their own
(MARÍA TERESA HERNÁNDEZ. AP News)
It was a heart-wrenching choice. But when Daniel Gammerman decided to never set foot back in an Orthodox synagogue, he thought of it as an act of love. Not toward the Jewish community he was born into, but to himself
SYNOD ON SYNODALITY
The transparent silliness of the lack of synodal transparency
(Russell Shaw. The Catholic World Report)
Now we run into a gag rule imposed on the synod participants by its managers “in order to guarantee freedom of expression.” Seriously?
SYNOD OCTOBER 2
Pope defends inclusion of non-bishops; Cardinal Fernández: ‘no’ to women deacons
(Catholic World News)
The second and final session of the 16th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops opened on October 2 with Mass in St. Peter’s Square
SPAIN
Why Opus Dei and a Spanish bishop are fighting over a Marian shrine
(Filipe d’Avillez. The Pillar)
A public spat between the personal prelature Opus Dei and the Diocese of Barbastro-Monzón, in northern Spain, has just been kicked up a notch, with Bishop Ángel Pérez requesting that Rome make a final decision over who has the right to run the popular pilgrimage site of Our Lady of Torreciudad
AUSTRIA
Why Austrian and German bishops diverge on the far right
(Luke Coppen. The Pillar)
The Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ), which came first in Sunday’s national parliamentary election, is frequently compared to the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party
DENMARK
Two predawn explosions rock the area around the Israeli Embassy in Copenhagen but no one is injured
(JAN M. OLSEN. AP News)
Three young Swedes were arrested Wednesday in connection with two predawn explosions that occurred in the vicinity of the Israeli Embassy in Copenhagen, prompting a nearby Jewish school to close for the day. Police said no one was injured
POPE FRANCISCO
Pope leads top cardinals in atoning for a host of sins ahead of a new phase of reform effort
(NICOLE WINFIELD. AP News)
Pope Francis launched the second phase of his big Catholic reform project Tuesday by asking forgiveness for a host of sins, reasoning that the church must atone for its transgressions if it wants to re-establish credibility with the faithful
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
Catholic Journalist killed in DR Congo, possibly for just $5
(Ngala Killian Chimtom. Crux)
A Congolese journalist and coordinator of Radio Maria – a Catholic radio station found in the war-ravaged eastern town of Goma in the Democratic Republic of the Congo – has been killed
POPE FRANCISCO
Pope opens synod urging participants to be humble, open-minded
(Elise Ann Allen. Crux)
Pope Francis Wednesday inaugurated the final session of his Synod of Bishops on Synodality, urging participants to be humble in listening to others and to be open to ideas and positions that are different from their own
SYNOD ON SYNODALITY
The beginning of the end, or....As the second (and last?) session of the Synod on synodality begins today, many people are still wondering: What is synodality?
(Robert Royal. The Catholic Thing)
There seems to be no good answer to that question. Indeed, the synod organizers think the very question is wrong. The best that anyone with some authority to say has been able to come up with is that synodality is not a “what” but a “process.” It “is” what it “does.”
U.S.
At Synod’s Outset, What Omitting LGBTQ+ People from the Penitential Vigil Might Mean?
(Robert Shine. New Ways Ministry)
This month, Bondings 2.0 will be reporting live from Rome as the final General Assembly of the Synod on Synodality meets. Today’s post covers a penitential prayer service held Tuesday and what it might portend for LGBTQ+ issues and the Synod
POPE FRANCISCO
Women’s role in Catholic Church tops agenda as Pope Francis opens second phase of big reform project
(NICOLE WINFIELD. AP News)
Pope Francis opened the second phase of his big Catholic reform project Wednesday, with widespread calls for women to take up more positions of responsibility in the church topping the agenda but ordained ministry still ruled out
LATIN AMERICA
Latin American Church discusses protection and promotion of immigrants
(Eduardo Campos Lima. Crux)
Latin American Church leaders will keep putting pressure on all governments in the region – and on the United States – to secure regular and safe crossing points on all borders for immigrants and refugees, said Elvy Monzant, executive secretary of the Latin American and Caribbean Church Network CLAMOR on Migration, Refugees and Human Trafficking
POPE FRANCISCO
9 Years Ago, This Papal Speech Set the ‘Synodality’ Machine in Motion
(Jonathan Liedl. National Catholic Register)
Since Pope Francis’ 2015 speech, synodality has grown from a theological concept into a guiding principle of Church governance
SYNOD ON SINODALITY
Archbishop notes Synod on Synodality opens Feast of Saint Jerome, a ‘difficult man’
As the Synod on Synodality began at the Vatican on Monday, one archbishop said it was Divine Providence it was the Feast of Saint Jerome, a “passionate and difficult man.”