Debate takes off at the Synod

“An act of disturbance” we should not be conditioned by. In the daily press briefing on the Synod Fr Federico Lombardi, director of the Holy See’s press office, spoke of the online publication past October 5 of the letter by thirteen cardinals synod fathers to Pope Francis. The Vatican spokesman underlined that “difficulties included in the letter – which was to be kept confidential and that four cardinals denied having signed – were mentioned on by the Pope in the Synod Hall” and that the General Secretary of the synod and the Pope had “responded clearly the following morning”. “Whoever disseminated this material – Lombardi cautioned – performed an act of disturbance, and therefore it would be inappropriate to allow it to have any influence”. For the director of the Vatican Press Office, “observations” can be made regarding the methodology of the synod, but “once (the methodology is) agreed upon, a commitment is made to put it into practice in the best way possible”. A factor of reconciliation. That of Tuesday October 13 was a “female” briefing, with the participation of two auditors at the Synod: Thérèse Nyirabukeye, consultant and formator for the African Federation of Family Action – FAAF (Rwanda), and Moira McQueen, director of the Canadian Bioethics Institute (Canada). On the same panel figured also Fr Jeremias Schröder, archabbot, President of the Benedictine Congregation of Saint Odile, one of the ten elected religious. Speaking of the relationship between the family and vocations, Thérèse Nyirabukeye, observed: “supporting vocation and mission on the family in the world prompts vocations to the priesthood and to consecrated life”. Fr Jeremias Schröder focused on the changes in the social foundation of vocations: “In many German monasteries young monks come from non-Catholic families”. For Moira McQueen, we are witnessing “a reflourishing of vocations. They deserve being promoted for the good of society as a whole”. The family as a powerful factor of reconciliation was the theme broached by Nyirabukeye, who remembered the genocide in her Country twenty years ago. “We are going through a phase of slow recovery – she said – and we count on the family for this, on their testimony that love and reconciliation are possible; that it’s possible to jointly undertake a fraternal path”. On remarried divorcees. Answering a question on the proposal of female diaconate (on the part of the Canadian archbishop Paul-André Durocher), Schröder said he was “astounded”. “It seemed both daring and convincing to me – he added – I could imagine a journey in this direction but the theme was not met with large reception in the Assembly Hall”. The prelate explained that on certain specific themes “was mentioned the possibility of facing issues on the basis of the cultural context” coupled by “pastoral solutions in harmony with the surrounding environment”. In Germany, Schröder went on, the theme of remarried divorcees is felt more strongly compared to other countries. McQueen’s invitation is to adopt a wise approach and to consider these themes also from the “local” angle, “against the backdrop of the universal Church”. Women, fundamental role. Speaking of her thirty-year long experience as teacher in natural methods, Nyirabukeye said that among the women population in villages, knowing the mechanisms regulating the biological performance of the human body is “reason of pride”. She pointed out that some of her former students intend to serve as “missionaries of life”. Nyirabukeye expressed her appreciation as participant of the Synod and welcomed the opportunity of giving her contribution in the small circles, where auditors are allowed to take the floor. “When we review the works of the day we realize that our words are being acknowledged”, McQueen added. Canadian bioethicist welcomed the fact that increasing numbers of women “who do not have a fundamental role in the transmission of faith and values, are integrated within the Synod process, testifying to the fact that the Church values the progress of society”, proving the existence of a “constructive form of feminism”.