Today we cannot forget the fact that during the last three decades what has come into light is the suffering experienced by minors and vulnerable adults because of sexual abuse, abuse of power and abuse of conscience committed by a significant number of Priests and religious. So if the source of all the evil caused by abuse, is this concentration of decision-making power in the hands of the clergy and religious, the responsibility is not only the conversion of the clergy and religious but also recognition that this path of conversion is unthinkable without the active participation of the laity. Sadly, for more than 1700 years the laity has had no place in the decision making process of the church.
As a way forward, 'Synodal musings' is a serious of articles inviting the church authorities to enter into dialogue with the laity addressing their various unanswered questions for the last 70 years since Vatican II. In this process, both clergy and laity need to speak frankly and courageously and enter into the humility of listening. The Church need do not need to be afraid of mutual questioning between Priests, religious and laity. This way of walking together is an art that cannot be developed in the Church without trained leaders (priests, religious and laity) who exercise a new style of leadership that is no longer vertical and clerical but more horizontal and collaborative. A leadership of service that sees authority not as an imposing force but as a force that frees creativity and encourages the participation of all, according to the charisma of each person.
Laypeople no longer accept a clericalist and authoritarian church. They don't fight anymore; they simply go out the back door. They leave. We would not get them back if something radical does not take place at this synod. 'Synodal musings' spells out the various disputes for which the laity need clear answers to put an end to clericalism in the church.
The church needs to overcome clericalism once and for all in order to effectively promote unity and synodality. It is clericalism that prevents the church today from being an evangelical church. The laity have great hope that the synod can put an end to clericalism—perhaps not entirely, but at least in its major strongholds. If this synod doesn't overcome that difficulty, we don't know when we will have another opportunity. Clericalism is what prevents the church today from being missionary. Clericalism is the biggest hurdle the church has to overcome in order to bring about total reform in all areas of life be it theological, liturgical, sacramental, catechetical, moral, ecclesiological, . These 'synodal musings' deal with these various aspects of the church where reform is needed.
For 70 years Clericalist clergy may say that they consult everyone, but they end up saying that the people don't know what they are talking about, as if they are all ignorant. Will everyone's voice be heard? Will Youth, Women, asylum seekers, third gender, poor, homeless, working class, Drug, alcoholic, Child Abuse Clerics, and custodial Abuse voices be heard. Vatican II speaks of the church as a sacrament—or mystical body of Christ—but also as people of God. These two concepts need to be understood together. The concept of the church as the people of God is very appropriate. It is the image of the pilgrim people of God, a people who walk together. The church as people of God is the body of Christ incarnate in history.
These 'synodal musings' are certainly, critical and crucial unlike any other as they delve deep in finding clear answers to the many questions raised by the laity in order to make their voices heard. They fulfill the words of Jesus as he said, Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have said in the dark, shall be heard in the light, and whatever you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed upon housetops (Lk. 12:2, 3).