InTeRnatIonaL
2 September 12, 2021 catholicregister.org
BY CAROL GLATZ Catholic News Service
VATICAN CITY
The Vatican has issued the prepara- tory document and a "handbook" for dioceses as part of the global Church's preparation for the 2023 assembly of the Synod of Bishops, discussing the theme, "For a synodal Church: communion, par- ticipation and mission." "Pope Francis invites the entire Church to reflect on a theme that is decisive for its life and mission: 'It is precisely this path of synodality which God expects of the Church of the third millennium,'" the new document said. As such, the preparatory document and its questions are "at the service of the synodal journey, especially as a tool to facilitate the first phase of listening to and con- sulting the people of God in the particular churches in the hope of helping to set in motion the ideas, energy and creativity of all those who will take part in the journey, and to make it easier to share the fruits of their efforts," it said. "The purpose of this synod is not to produce more documents. Rather, it is intended to inspire people to dream about the Church we are called to be, to make people's hopes flourish, to stimulate trust, to bind up wounds, to weave new and deeper relationships, to learn from one another, to build bridges, to enlighten minds, warm hearts, and restore strength to our hands for our common mission," the pre- paratory document said. The handbook or "vademecum" offers guidelines for bishops and those helping facilitate the synodal process locally on how they can best listen to and consult with Catholics and the wider community, particularly those on the margins of society, as well as Christians and non-Christians. The materials were released Sept. 7 at a news conference at the Vatican and online in English and Spanish at the synod's official website. Pope Francis is scheduled to formally open the synod process at the Vatican Oct. 9-10, and the bishop of every diocese should open the process in his diocese Oct. 17. The diocesan phase runs until April. The materials present a number of questions to help prompt reflec- tion, input and ideas from as many people as possible. The questions fall under 10 general themes, and people can address what is most pertinent to their situation and "share with honesty and openness about their real-life experiences, and to reflect together on what the Holy Spirit might be revealing through what they share with one another," the document said. Some suggested questions include: "To whom does our particular church 'need to listen to'" and "how are the laity, espe- cially young people and women, listened to? How do we integrate the contribution of consecrated men and women? What space is there for the voice of minorities, the discarded, and the excluded? Do we identify prejudices and ste- reotypes that hinder our listening? How do we listen to the social and cultural context in which we live?" However, the basic and most fundamental question guiding the whole process is: "How does this 'journeying together,' which takes place today on different levels - from the local level to the universal one - allow the Church to proclaim the Gospel in accor- dance with the mission entrusted to her; and what steps does the Spirit invite us to take in order to grow as a synodal Church?" the document said. Speaking at the news confer- ence, Cardinal Mario Grech, secretary-general of the Synod of Bishops, and others explained the main objectives and characteris- tics of a synodal process, which is "a spiritual process" that requires listening to the Holy Spirit as well as to each other. "The synod will succeed or fail to the extent to which we rely on the Holy Spirit," the cardinal said. When asked about the possi- bility of allowing women to vote in a Synod of Bishops, Grech said he felt troubled by so much focus being on "the vote," saying "it is not the vote that matters." What matters is the larger process that involves the entire people of God coming together to find common ground, which is not easy, he said. "So perhaps we have to insist more on how we can dialogue, converse, discern together in order to possibly reach this harmony," find consensus and not depend so much on the votes cast during a synod. Xaviere Missionary Sister Nathalie Becquart, one of two undersecretaries to the Synod of Bishops, will be the first woman with a right to vote at a meeting of the Synod of Bishops.
BY CAROL ZIMMERMANN Catholic News Service
WASHINGTON
The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled against blocking a Texas law banning abortions at six weeks of pregnancy. The 5-4 vote, issued Sept. 1 with a one- paragraph unsigned opinion, said the chal- lengers to the Texas law - which went into effect Sept. 1 - did not adequately address the "complex and novel antecedent proce- dural questions" in this case. "This order is not based on any conclu- sion about the constitutionality of Texas' law, and in no way limits other procedur- ally proper challenges to the Texas law, including in Texas state courts," the opinion said, leaving open the possibility that the state's abortion providers could challenge it in other ways. The Texas abortion providers had come to the Supreme Court with an emergency appeal to stop the law, but the court initially did not respond. The Texas Catholic Conference, the public policy arm of the state's Catholic bishops, said it is the first time since Roe v. Wade that the nation's high court "has allowed a pro-life law to remain while litiga- tion proceeds in lower courts." President Joe Biden criticized the Supreme Court's action and said in a Sept. 2 statement that his administration will look to launch a "whole-of-government effort to respond to this decision" and look at "what steps the federal government can take to ensure that women in Texas have access to safe and legal abortions as protected by Roe." The law, signed by Republican Gov. Greg Abbott in May, became effective at midnight Sept. 1. It is one of the strictest abortion measures in the country, banning abortions in the state after a fetal heartbeat is detect- able. There is an exception for medical emer- gencies but not for rape or incest. "We celebrate every life saved by this legislation. Opponents of the law argue the term 'heartbeat' is misleading. They call it 'embryonic cardiac activity' or worse, 'elec- trically induced flickering of embryonic tissue.' These attempts to dehumanize the unborn are disturbing," the Texas bishops said in a Sept. 3 statement. The night before the law took effect, court watchers on both sides of the issue kept vigil at the Supreme Court waiting for an order that never came. Abortion providers in the state had argued that the law would prevent about 85 per cent of abortions in the state and will likely cause many clinics to close. At least 12 other states have legislation banning abortions early in pregnancy, but these bans have been blocked by courts.
Court won't block Texas' six-week abortion ban
Journey begins for a 'synodal Church'
Vatican releases guidance for dioceses 'to inspire people to dream about the Church we are called to be'
Pope Francis greets a woman as he meets homeless people and refugees in attendance for the screening of the documen- tary film Francesco at the Vatican Sept. 6. The Vatican press office said that the Pope offered words of affection and comfort to about 20 people who had recently arrived from Afghanistan.
(CNS photo/Vatican Media)
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