By Tim Rohr
I put quotes around "synodality" because it isn't a real word. It's entirely made up, just like the thing it is supposed to label. In fact, Blogger, this program, has underlined it as a mistake and wants to know if I want to "Add to Dictionary." I don't.
The whole synodality idiocy is idiocy, a ruse, but more than that, since, as this bishop points out, the idiocy is costing souls.
Read his open letter to Pope Leo as posted on ThoughtfulCatholic.com. HERE.
For the purposes of this post, I shall focus on one section of the letter:
The expectations that cannot be met
The synodal process has raised expectations. This happened primarily because, during the various consultation phases, themes’ s were admitted that touch upon matters on which the Church already possesses clear doctrine. The female diaconate. The priesthood. Sexual morality. Homosexual relationships. The relationship between laity and clergy. Ecclesiastical authority. Decentralization. The position of women. When such subjects are for years "discussed”, the impression naturally arises that they can ultimately be changed as well. After all, otherwise one would not talk about them endlessly.
A pastoral paradox arises there. People are asked to express their expectations. Subsequently, some expectations prove impossible to fulfill without jeopardizing continuity with Catholic doctrine. What happens then? Widespread disappointment. The Church has itself raised expectations that it ultimately cannot honor. That is not a pastoral gain. It is a recipe for frustration.
The "synodal process" is not new. The church, in the persons of Pope John 23 and Paul 6, tried this 60 years ago, and it spectacularly failed. And who knows how many souls have been dragged into hell because of it.
I am speaking of the Papal Birth Control Commission, established by John 23 in 1961, and later expanded and extended by Paul 6. The objective of the Commission was to examine the then-newly invented birth-control pill and determine whether or not Catholic couples could use it.
Why did John even initiate the study when, in fact, Catholic teaching on contraception can never change? He did it for the same reason Francis birthed this "synodality" idiocy. Like contraception, the Church's teaching on the apostolic governance of the Church can never change. However, the popes, at least since John 23 (maybe with the exception of Benedict), have all wanted to show that they were "nice guys." They wanted to be able to check the box that said: "we tried" and "can't we all just get along now? Please...pretty please!!!"
Establishing these stupid commissions or the synodal b.s. was a way for them to pass on the responsibility to "the group," instead of standing firm as the "Vicar of Christ" and saying NO.
When Francis infamously said, "Who am I to judge?" I wanted to answer: "You're the Pope, damn it. And it's your job to judge." You are the Vicar of Christ on Earth. You have been given the Keys to the Kingdom of Heaven and the authority, by Christ himself, to bind and loose. You don't need a damn commission or kindergarten round tables (synodality).
A few days ago, our own archbishop employed this sniveling, cowardly language in his supposed appeal to the Neocatechumenal Way:
"We need to seek ways of walking together in our Synodal journey as one people of God."
He then goes on to kiss the feet of the Neocats, begging them to be nice. Read it for yourself.
It's pathetic. We are not on a damn "Synodal journey." We belong to the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. The only thing missing today is a shepherd who is actually Apostolic.
