Friday, November 8, 2019
The Amazon Synod with Pastor Carlos
The Amazon
Synod
Depending on which
Catholic news you follow, you probably heard about the recent Amazon Synod in
either positive or negative terms. It even made the front page of the
Union-Tribune last Sunday. I have had a couple of people approach me with
concerns. I asked them: Did you actually read the working document? Often times
we base our opinion solely on someone else’s opinion without reading the
primary document.
Rather than falling into
an either/or mentality of seeing everything in black and white terms, which
tends to exacerbate division, one can both affirm what is good in something and
at the same time, question what might seem concerning.
Here’s what I would affirm
in Instrumentum Laboris, the document of the Synod: The theological reflection
of sin as not only personal, but also social and structural goes very much in
line with the social encyclicals of St Paul II, such as Centessimus Annus. In
that encyclical, Pope St Paul II called for an authentic "human
ecology" of moral structures based on the essential dignity of human life.
Now, here are some
suggestions the document makes that concern me:
The reconsideration of jurisdiction
of ordained ministers: This is a very difficult and complicated legal matter,
to which the document provides no light as to how it would work.
The recognition of
“indigenous spirituality as a source of richness for the Christian experience.”
While Catholic missionaries throughout history have incorporated elements of
peoples’ religions and reoriented the meaning toward Christ (think of Christmas
trees or Easter eggs), the suggestion of the Synod seems to leave out the
explicit reorientation of native religious practices toward Christ.
Liturgical adaptations of
the liturgy: While the liturgy has changed over the course of history, allowing
each culture to drive new changes may challenge the visible unity and
universality of the Church.
Let us continue to pray
for Pope Francis and our bishops.
God bless,Fr. Carlos, OSA
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