No more “one-man show” in church

Rome/Vienna, October 15, 2024 (KAP) The World Synod of Bishops will discuss the creation of a more synodal church in Rome for another week and a half. Regardless of the results, the faithful in Austria must actually try to carry out synodal work locally and take active responsibility for helping to shape the church, stresses theologian and synod advisor Clara Cesare. “Each of us, regardless of where we stand in the Church, must translate the message of this Synod for ourselves,” the Dean of Theology at the private Catholic University of Linz said in an interview with the diocese’s online portal. Vienna and Cathapress (Tuesday) in Rome. “The ‘one man show’ or ‘one woman show’ mentality that still prevails in some church structures must be broken,” Cesar said.

A professor of theology gave an example from her professional environment: “For me personally, this means that through my role at the Faculty of Theology, I intensify cooperation with different actors and take responsibility in a joint process.” In parishes, one must ask oneself whether everyone is truly represented and whether immigrants, people with disabilities or young people also have a voice, says Cesar. “And when we see gaps, we must strive to fill them and be uncomfortable in order to actually achieve synodal work.”

The laity are taking on more and more responsibility in the Church, thus reminding us that “each of us is called through baptism to actively form the Church,” Cesare emphasized at another point in the conversation. “We can no longer expect consecrated people to take care of everything just for us. Synodality means that all of us, regardless of our situation, bear responsibility.”

Cesare noted that on the “always present but often misunderstood” question of the position and role of women in the Church, there is no need currently for further theological arguments, “but rather for a larger framework.” He added: “We will not ordain deaconesses in the next few weeks, but that does not mean that the issue is off the table.” It's about putting women in management positions and making them more visible. “This requires patience and courage to deeply rethink the office and include women in decision-making processes.”

“Roller coaster of hope”

The pastoral theologian is part of the group of theological advisors at the synod meeting at the Vatican that began on October 2. In an interview, she described the past few days in and around the Synod Hall as “a roller coaster of hope.” “It's not easy to hear all these different voices and points of view, and the question is always in your head: Where does this road lead us?” says the expert.

After two weeks you can also feel pressure. Some in the Synod wanted major and rapid reforms in the Church, while others clung to old ideas and did not want any changes. “But I have the impression that an ‘intelligent middle’ is emerging that says: ‘Let’s come together and walk the same path,’” Cesare said.

This requires “time, patience and courage.” The “growing” group in the center often acts as a mediator and channels tensions, “helping to build bridges and overcome bubbles,” the theologian said. It draws hope from the great dedication of the people participating in the Synod. “Many are willing to courageously seek new paths to the Church. This shows me that despite all the differences there is a strong common foundation.”

According to Cesar, the events preceding the Synod meeting also had a positive impact, such as the workshop in which several participants of the European Synod in Linz at the end of August intensively discussed the Synod Working Paper. Cesare said this has deepened trust and is also having an impact on cooperation in Rome: “We get closer to each other and talk openly with each other, even if we have different opinions on certain topics.”

Continuing synodal operations

Cesare described the sense of faith of the People of God (“the sense of faith”) as the “heart” and foundation of the work of the Synod. “It's about listening to believers and respecting their perceptions.” Given the obvious differences in needs, cultural contexts and hence attitudes in the universal Church, this requires enormous adaptability.

In general, the theologian very much hopes that the council will not be limited to Rome, but will continue in the local churches. “I expect that we will strengthen synodal processes by continuing them at the continental level and at the level of the bishops’ conferences,” Cesar said. “There is a corollary that decisions must be based on the continents and in bishops' conferences before they are transmitted to local churches. This strengthens the church and gives believers around the world the feeling that their views are heard and taken into account.”

(Interview on the electronic portal of the Archdiocese of Vienna: www.erzdioezese-wien.at/site/nachrichtenmagazin/schwpunkt/bischofssynodezursynodale/article/123921.html)