VATICAN CITY: 9th October 2005 - The following comment is
verbatim from the Salesian expert at the Synod, Fr Frank Moloney. He
refers to the experts as so-called and surrounds them with quotation
marks, but this reporter believes the term is justified at least in
this instance! After the first week, then.....
"...The rhythm of work is quite
remarkable.We start at 9 every morning, and continue till 12.30pm.The so-called “experts” assemble at 3.30pm, and then the plenary starts
again at 4.30pm.We work till 7pm.The three and
a half hours in the afternoon can be quite draining.Fortunately, at the express request of
Benedict XVI, during the final hour of each day (from 6pm-7pm) the members of the
Synod have an open
debate.Amazingly, this debate can be
very lively, with a certain amount of cut and thrust from different
sides of
the ideological divides that one necessarily finds in Holy MotherChurch! "Impressions after
the first week are
many.As these are personal reflections,
and I am not in a position to share information on what is actually
said
(although I find this strange, as the Italian version of the daily Osservatore Romano reports most of the
interventions almost verbatim!), I will share just one reflection.What I am about to write has been with me for
the major part of this week.The Rector
here at the Salesian Community of the Vatican Polyglott Press asked me
to give
the “good night” this evening, and I also shared this with the
wonderful
community here.
"In the Synod Hall,
people are seated in
order of hierarchical significance: the Cardinals fill the front rows,
then the
Archbishops and Bishops … and at the very back, the experts and the
observers.Listening to the various
interventions from the Archbishops and Bishops is a moving experience.These are the men who are facing the reality
of the day-to-day life of the Church.Some of their speeches are very touching: witnesses to
martyrdom, the
desperate need for the Eucharist in so many communities, and the
heartfelt request
for greater freedom for the Episcopal Conferences: more inculturation,
a closer
look at the question of a celibate clergy, the issue of intercommunion,
the
pastoral problems of divorced and remarried, etc.One
of the most touching reflections was from
a minorityChurch in an
Islamic country where a
Christian woman who marries a Muslim is excluded from her Christian
community
and excluded from the Muslim family as well.This is powerful stuff!I must also
say (as I think [has been] heard in the Australian press) that the
Bishops of PNG
and the South Pacific have been very courageous.As
yet the Australian Bishops have not made a
major impact, although Archbishop Adrian Doyle (Hobart) spoke well of the virtues of
dedicated Priests. "The response from
the Cardinals and the
Curia to this cry for help is unfailingly negative.They will not and do not want to hear what is
being said.What I find touching,
however, is the presence of Benedict XVI in the midst of all this.He has only missed one session: he had a
dental appointment!Benedict XVI is a
very intelligent and sensitive man.I
cannot help but wonder how he feels as he senses the call for help from
the
Church at large, and the rejection of that call from the Church’s
Curial
leadership.He has made one long
intervention himself on the Eucharist as “prophetic memory.”It was unforgettable.Only
time will tell..
"Keep us all in your prayers as later this
week we will move on from the general discussions into the stage of the
“Propositions” that will be voted, and then sent on to the Holy Father
to guide
him in his post-Synodal exhortation.But
especially, keep Benedict XVI in your prayers.He is in an unenviable situation, and needs all the support we
can give
him – in whatever way we may be able to do that!
"
____________________________
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