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Keywords: Synodality

  • RELIGION

    Women deacons: A closed book?

    • Bill Uren
    • 11 June 2024

    In a 60 Minutes interview, Pope Francis was asked whether there would ever be the prospect within the Catholic Church of a woman being ordained as a deacon. The Pope’s reply was a blunt ‘No’. This negative response came as a surprise to many Vatican watchers. 

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  • RELIGION

    Painful times for Church reformers

    • John Warhurst
    • 29 May 2024

    We are now witnessing a changed dynamic within the movement for church reform. The balance within its component parts has changed towards a more pessimistic view. A minority is still hopeful; a few even remain optimistic, but most are struggling.

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  • RELIGION

    Unearthing hidden gems of reform following the synod

    • Bill Uren
    • 12 December 2023
    2 Comments

    The Synod on Synodality raised possible Church reforms like expanding communion to non-Catholics in interchurch marriages and reevaluating the stance on divorced and remarried members. This raises the question: Can the Church reconcile longstanding traditions with emerging calls for inclusivity and ecumenical openness?

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  • RELIGION

    Mixed messages inside and outside the Synodal Church

    • John Warhurst
    • 06 December 2023
    4 Comments

    In the aftermath of the Synod on Synodality, the Catholic community is marked by a sense of uncertainty, reflected in reactions that span from hope to criticism. As the Second Assembly nears, the critical need for more transparent and effective communication from Church leaders becomes increasingly evident.

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  • RELIGION

    The doubts of the five cardinals

    • Bill Uren
    • 16 November 2023
    7 Comments

    Just two days before the opening of the recently concluded Synod on Synodality, five senior Cardinals — German Cardinal Walter Brandmüller, United States Cardinal Raymond Burke, Guinean Cardinal Robert Sarah, Hong Kong Cardinal Joseph Zen and Mexican Cardinal Juan Sandoval Ìñiguez — brought to public notice the five ‘Dubia’ (Doubts).

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  • RELIGION

    Religion and politics Sydney-style

    • John Warhurst
    • 14 November 2023
    11 Comments

    Religion and politics are frequent bedfellows. Despite many clerics and bishops holding strong political views, and many lay Catholics being active within political parties, the successful embrace of synodality depends upon finding middle ground, and leaders who respect a diversity of views.

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  • AUSTRALIA

    Pope Francis' lesson for a polarised world: Focus on the process, not the outcome

    • Julian Butler
    • 11 October 2023

    Amidst a backdrop of polarized decisions and rising populism, at the Synod on Synodality in Rome, Pope Francis emphasises collaborative listening. As he explores decision-making in religious contexts, could prioritising process over outcome reshape our own current political landscape?

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  • RELIGION

    Catholic schools: Australia's ecclesial future?

    • John Warhurst
    • 15 August 2023
    43 Comments

    In Australia, Catholic schools are thriving amidst declining parishes. As the Synod on Synodality looms, can these institutions, grappling with a diverse, increasingly secular student body, reshape the future of the Catholic Church in Australia?

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  • RELIGION

    Synod working document encourages cautious optimism

    • John Warhurst
    • 05 July 2023
    11 Comments

    As the Vatican releases the working document for the first Synod on Synodality, reactions within the Catholic community are mixed. While many applaud its open approach to divisive issues, others deem it too progressive or insufficiently thorough. Australian bishops encourage engagement, but the road ahead poses significant challenges.

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  • RELIGION

    Synodality: 'Why did you doubt?'

    • Bill Uren
    • 29 June 2023
    10 Comments

    I must confess that in the lead-up to the first session in October 2023 of the Synod on Synodality, I more than a little resembled Peter. Embarking on synodal waters, initially I was apprehensive. Would anything substantial come of Pope Francis' initiative? 

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  • RELIGION

    The First Synod: Procedure or reforms?

    • Bill Uren
    • 18 May 2023
    8 Comments

    The Vatican's recent refusal of proposed reforms in preparation for the Synod reflects not only the ongoing tension between the Vatican Curia and the German Church but also a reminder of the forces that aim to keep a tight lid on real synodal reforms.

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  • RELIGION

    Cathedrals and caravans

    • John Honner
    • 27 February 2023
    3 Comments

    The word synodality may not be familiar to many, but it's a word that Pope Francis has been emphasising throughout his papacy. It refers to a Church that listens and travels together, with everyone having something to learn from one another. 

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