sfflssssSHasgsBfesKssssssHffissi^saisaa^^

COURIER-JOURNAL Thursday, December 5, 1985 Extraofdinar In this four-page pull-out section, we take a look at the speeches and events of the first week of the extraordinary Synod of , which continuesin Rome through December 8. Synod provides forum for wide range of issues By Agostino Bono Krol. Vatican City (NC) — Although the world The aim of the synod is a "realistic Synod of Bishops has only advisory powers, interpretation of the world beginning with the Nov. 24-Dec. 8 extraordinary session objective truth," he added. quickly developed as a forum for open At the press conference, Cardinal Dan­ debate on a wide range of Church issues. neels said that collegiality and the role of From the start, delegates from around the women in the Church were also raised as world began outlining their views on topics issues by many hierarchies in the developed as diverse as collegiality and religious countries of North America and Europe, but persecution in the Soviet Union. less so in the Third World and in commu­ At the first working session, Ukrainian nist-bloc countries. Archbishop Maxim Hermaniuk of Win­ "In Latin America the liberation of man nipeg, Manitoba, urged sweeping reform of and human rights are problems of greater the Church's decision-making process. He intensity," said Cardinal Danneels. In Africa called for formation of a permanent Synod and Asia, the issue is inculturation, he of Bishops that would exercise legislative added, with reference to the adaptation of powers with the pope. Christianity to local culture and customs. The pope with the synod should decide About 60 percent of the synod delegates questions on the life of the Church that are came from Third World countries, Cardinal currently decided by the pope and his Danneels noted. advisers in the Curia, the Church's central By Nov. 26, 161 of the 164 delegates had administrative offices, he said. The arch­ arrived at the Vatican for the synod meet­ proposed that the synod be composed ings. of bishops elected to six-year terms. The central issue of the bishops in the The extraordinary synod is intended to communist-bloc countries is freedom to provide an "extremely free" forum of views, express their religion, said Cardinal Dan­ said Cardinal Godfried Danneels of neels. Malines-Brussels, , at a Nov. 25 Reports from those bishops' conferences press conference which included Cardinal "are less explicit" because of their situa­ John Krol of Philadelphia. tions, he added. The Church seeks "unity not uniformity," In the opening days of the synod, col­ said Cardinal Krol. legiality was a key issue of many speeches, Both cardinals are synod officials. Cardi­ although none of the speakers during the nal Krol is one of the three synod co- first two working days went as far as presidents. Cardinal Danneels is the re­ Archbishop Hermaniuk in asking for cording secretary. sweeping changes in the Church's de­ Cardinal Danneels said Pope John Paul II cision-making apparatus. is largely, responsible for the synod's open­ Collegiality refers to the shared responsi­ ness because he let the synod delegates form bility and authority in the Church of the the agenda. pope and all the world's bishops. The pope called the synod to reflect on the Bishop James Malone of Youngstown, Church 20 years after the Second Vatican Ohio, head of the U.S. bishops' conference, Council closed. asked for a strengthening of the impetus Since calling the council in a surprise collegiality has given to national bishops' announcement last January, the pope has conferences. He favored a growing role for avoided publicly proposing synod topics. bishops' conferences in Church affairs. At the Nov. 24 Mass opening the synod, Archbishop Denis Hurley of Durban, the pope said the purpose was to promote South Africa, said greater responsibility for Vatican II teachings "in the light of the Church matters should be exercised at the experience which has matured in the course local level. of the subsequent 20 years.'' Retired Bishop John W. Gran of Oslo, Joaquin Navarro-Vails, Vatican press Norway, asked for a greater local Church spokesman, said the pope's remarks were jple in choosing bishops. Flanked by cardinals and bishops. Pope John Paul II walks in procession through St. Regarding collegiality, Cardinals Danneels Peter's Square for the opening of the extraordinary synod. (NC photo) general to synod delegates because he "did not want to push them in anyway." and Krol said at the press conference that it The issues before the synod have been was an important theological issue, which Pope says synod aims to promote Vatican II determined by the delegates in a series of involves finding a practical balance between presynod reports, which were summarized by the authority of the pope over the universal Church and the authority of the bishop in his By Sister Mary Ann Walsh added, "in the light of the fundamental Cardinal Danneels in an official report to the synod. own diocese. Vatican City (NC) — The extraordinary documents that were then issued, and in light "The bishop who rules his diocese rules Synod of Bishops aims "to promote" the of the experience-which has matured in the The report said the post-conciliar Church in the light of course of the subsequent 20 years." is "intensely alive" and rejected any not as a delegate or as a vicar of the pope, but by divine authority," said Cardinal Krol. council documents and the past 20 years of At the Mass, which took place on the last "pessimism, resignation or discouragement" Church experience, Pope John Paul II said, Sunday of the liturgical year, the Feast of over the status of contemporary Catholicism. "Finding a balance requires sensitivity," opening the Nov. 24-Dec. 8 meeting at a Christ the King, the pope said that the The report listed the positive and negative he said. Mass in St. Peter's Square. council teachings highlight the proper un­ aspects of Church life presented in the Severaf delegates used the synod as a The pope also said at his Angelus address derstanding of the "kingdom of man" and ptesynod reports sent to the Vatican by more forum to condemn persecution of Catholics. that he hoped the synod would contribute the kingdom of God. than 100 of the 136 national hierarchies Cardinal Antoine Pierre Khoraiche, patri­ which received questionnaires. arch of Lebanon's Maronite Catholics, said "to the enrichment, growth and deepening of "In this time of ours, when from various thefaitfi." ~ Positive aspects most cited were liturgical the situation of Christians in the Middle East sides the primacy of man is set up in renewal, better understanding of the gospel, is particularly grave because of persecutions. In the address, given immediately after the opposition to the primacy of God," the pope clear Church witness in human rights and He cited Lebanon where Christian and Mass, Pope John Paul said that the heart of said, "the council in a convincing manner social problems, a more dynamic missionary Moslem-led militias have been fighting a the Second Vatican Council, was the makes all aware that the 'kingdom of man' spirit and dialogue with Christians and bloody civil war since 1975. Church's "one, holy, Catholic, apostolic can find its proper dimension only in the non-Christians, said the summary report. Cardinal Myroslav Lubachivsky, chief faith." kingdom of God." Negative points included a "subjectivism" archbishop of the^ world's Ukrainian "Faith is the basic principle, is the During the homily, the pope also rioted the regarding the liturgy and Church moral Catholics,, asked the synod not to ignore the foundation, the essential criterion for the growth of ecumenism since Vatican II and teachings, "superficial and ideological" in­ "cruel realities" of religious persecution in renewal desired by the Church," he said, addressed the 10 Protestant, Anglican and terpretations of the Church, and religious the Soviet Union. For Ukrainian Catholics, addressing a crowd in the square. Orthodox Church observers invited to the indifference in rich countries, the report the Second Vatican Council never really "From this faith," he added, "come the synod. added. occurred, he said. In the Ukraine, he said, no moral norms, of life, and the practical Catholic bishop, -priest or lay person is He greeted "with intense affection the At the press conference both cardinals said orientation for every circumstance." conflicting views on the status of the Church allowed to function religiously. brethren of the other Christian churches and While the "bloody persecutions" of the The pope concelebrated the Mass with communions." are needed for the synod to properly do its about 450 bishops and priests before job. post-World War II period have ended, he thousands of people, including the Vatican's Their presence, he added, calls to mind At the same time, it "is not a boxing said, blatant denial of religious freedom in diplomatic corps which was dressed formally their colleagues at Vatican II and "the match" between optimistic and pessimistic stronger than ever. This fact cannot be for the event. ecumenical path travelled since then." assessments of the Church, said Cardinal ignored in "diplomatic silence," he said. Vatican press spokesman Joaquin Navar­ Several nuns, seminarians, and lay persons ro- Vatis was quoted as saying that the pope's participated, in the Mass, including Virgil remarks to the synod participants were Dechant, supreme knight of the Knights of Columbus. Inside this section: general because he "did not want to push The bishops of Rochester comment on them in any way.'' Dechant, one of IS auditors at the synod, •j A Cardinal Krol says synod is not attempt is also a member of the Pontifical Council JLv to reverse developments since the Sec­ n the synod and express optimism on its The synod, which marks the 20th anniver­ ond Vatican Council. outcome. sary of the close of Vatican II, sets out "to for the Family. relive the spiritual climate oT that great The pope met privately with DechanrNov. Boston's Cardinal Bernard Law says -| ^ The bishops of Third World nations ecclesial event," the pope said at the Mass. 23. As is customary, the Vatican released no U the Church needs for worldwide cate­ M.Z* describe their needs; Bishop Malone It also aims "to promote" Vatican II, he details of the meeting. chism on Vatican II. seeks greater role for bishops' conferences.