Synod of Bishops begins at Vatican
Northern California’s Weekly Catholic Newspaper
By John Thavis
(CNS PHOTO FROM REUTERS)
Catholic san Francisco
Pope Benedict XVI processes into Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican for the opening of the Synod of the Bishops Oct. 2.
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The Synod of Bishops on the Eucharist opened with a papal Mass and an overview of the liturgical and pastoral issues up for discussion, including questions about married priests and shared Communion. Pope Benedict XVI, celebrating an opening Mass Oct. 2 in St. Peter’s Basilica, said the Eucharist was a privileged place to meet God. The problem today, he said, is that individuals are often indifferent to God, and Western society wants to banish God from public life. Calling the Eucharist an antidote to this attitude, he said, “God is waiting for us. He wants to be loved by us. Shouldn’t this appeal perhaps touch our hearts?” The synod’s schedule of meetings began Oct. 3 with a meditation by the pope. He appeared to invite open discussion when he said that true collegiality sometimes necessitates “fraternal correction” among bishops. “None of us sees himself very well, or his own defects,” he said. The exercise of collegiality should help them all recognize gaps in their own thinking and become more open, he said. Before it concludes Oct. 23, the assembly was to draw up a list of recommendations or propositions to present to the pope for his consideration in preparing a papal document on the subject. Missing at the synod’s opening events were four bishops from mainland China, who were recently named as synod members by the pope. Vatican officials said the bishops had not yet received government approval for the trip to Rome. At the assembly’s first session, Italian Cardinal Angelo Scola of Venice, synod recording secretary, delivered a lengthy report called a “relatio” that detailed items for discussion over the coming weeks. Cardinal Scola’s report said the synod will have to grapple with questions about ordaining married men, sharing Communion with other Christians and allowing divorced and civilly remarried Catholics to receive the sacrament. But he made clear to the synod, and to journalists at a press conference the same day, that he did not believe current church practice should change on any of those issues. SYNOD OF BISHOPS, page 5
Archbishop Levada asks synod members about politicians, Communion By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Archbishop William J. Levada, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, asked members of the Synod of Bishops on the Eucharist to discuss how they deal with Catholic politicians who want to receive Communion, but do not vote in full accordance with Catholic teaching. The former archbishop of San Francisco, taking advantage of an hour of “free discussion” at the synod Oct. 3, said the issue had “caused some divisions” among U.S. Catholics during the 2004 presidential elections, and he hoped to hear how other bishops would approach the problem.
Archbishop Levada quoted from the synod’s working document, which said, “Some Catholics do not understand why it might be a sin to support a political candidate who is openly in favor of abortion or other serious acts against life, justice and peace.” Given the tension that arose as different U.S. bishops chose different ways to deal with the issue, including publicly announcing they would deny Communion to some Catholic politicians, Archbishop Levada said, “Let’s hear the experiences of synod fathers from other countries.” In the formal sessions of the synod Oct. 3-4, bishops covered a variety of topics, but seemed most con-
cerned about the need for catechesis about the Eucharist; making the Eucharist relevant in secularized societies; explaining the Eucharist in the context of the other sacraments; dealing with the shortage of priests; and connection between the Eucharist and mission, charity and social justice. But Italian Archbishop Bruno Forte of Chieti-Vasto focused on the possibility of reforming the synod process itself. In the first millennium when the churches of the East and West were united, he said, the Eucharist celebrated by the local bishop was the source and sign of the unity of LEVADA, page 5
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