Inclusive Synod

The biological facts of Creationism have been a big part of my blog, along with other subjects as listed in the right column of the original format. I’m grateful that I’ve felt free to write facts and opinions, and even some personal journaling, in the Womanatwell mix. I am still reading some things about the theology of Creationism but would like to get on with some other topics I’ve just touched upon or not addressed at all. 

I also want to keep an eye on the ongoing Catholic Synod on Synodality, as I have done in some of the past few posts. Another major announcement has been made about the Synod, to which I will link below.

First, I would like to point out that the logo for the Synod is changed slightly, from 2021-2023 to 2021-2024. This is because there will now be two Vatican Bishops’ meetings concerning this work in the Catholic Church, one each in 2023 and 2024. I’m putting the new logo here with a link to information about it on the Synod website. Click on the logo for the link.

The latest news is about the participants that will be attending and for the first time able to vote in a Bishops’ Synod.

From the Catholic News Agency article, “Vatican announces laypeople, including women, will vote in Synod on Synodality assembly,” dated April 26, 2023 (link HERE):

The biggest change announced Wednesday was the removal of the “auditor” role. In past synods, auditors included priests, religious, and laypeople, who did not have the right to vote in synod deliberations.

Now, these 70 members, who may be priests, consecrated women, deacons, and laypeople, will be able to vote. They will be chosen by the pope from among a list of 140 people selected by the leadership of this year’s continental synod meetings.

According to the synod leadership, it is requested that “50% of [the selected people] be women and that the presence of young people also be emphasized.”

I am pleased about women becoming more a part of the voice and leadership of the Church.

Women are not just physical companions to men but intellectual and psychological colleagues as well, and that includes single and married women. This is despite the prevailing philosophy, already in Aristotle's time, that said women are incomplete or deficient men. Thomas Aquinas stated that women had little intellect and were only good for generation (reproduction). Supposedly our inferior sexual status was sometimes brought about by moist south winds at the time of our conception (Summa Theologica, Part I, Q. 92, Art. 1). Science has changed, and although Aristotle and Thomas Aquinas were both geniuses, that doesn't mean they were always right. When women are kept from education, they may seem less brilliant than these men, but fortunately we now have that opportunity.

A large part of this Synod is to give voice to all Catholics, not just those who have been in power in the past and present. Many of the faithful have felt marginalized, and that has included women, the disabled, young persons and immigrants. Of course, other groups are important, and, for example, bishops from small countries that were not previously represented will have at least one voting member included in the Synod.

And we must remember the ultimate goal for us all: Catholics need to carry out the real purpose of evangelization, which is telling others about God the Father, Holy Spirit, and Jesus Christ, Who suffered atonement for our sins, rose from the dead. and is our only way to Heaven.