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Synod results were to be expected – and are not enough

Bonn - Regina Nagel takes a sobering look at the results of the Synod on Synodality. The immanent abuse of power in the system and doctrine was not addressed. She wonders: Will there ever be a synod that dares to look into the abysses of the church?

Published  on 29.10.2024 at 00:01  – by Regina Nagel

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The outcome of the Synod on Synodality is not surprising, nor is the fact that there was no clear vote in favour of ordaining women deacons. Ultimately, this is a good thing, because such a vote would have been too little and would still have been cheered. The majority of the synod should have spoken out in favour of gender justice, in favour of ending all restrictions on the ordination of women* and this should have been combined with the demand to question the hierarchical system as a whole, as gender-equitable clericalism would not be a solution either. The fact that this idea is illusory does not mean that it is inappropriate.

The result, such as it is, is what was to be expected. And the reactions? Conservative new evangelisers express satisfaction, while reform-minded people pick up on passages that seem to them to be relevant. Some express disappointment and yet try to interpret small steps positively because they are connected to people in their parishes or organisations who still want to shape church life constructively. There are Catholics around the world who hope that sections such as 60 (women) or 77 (laity) will help them to take steps that were previously impossible.

However,the fact that 97 synod members were unable to agree to the cautious attempts to recognise women in the church (60) will mean that more women will no longer invest energy in humiliating, endless loops within the church. Those who can no longer tolerate the simulation of participation will jump ship and create space for themselves.

The final text speaks of the pain caused by disregard for dignity, of abuse, guilt and the need for conversion. Members of the clergy are mentioned as perpetrators and there is talk of the church's shortcomings. The immanent abuse of power in the system and doctrine is not an issue. Unity in diversity, harmony and synodality are invoked. Concretisations show good will, but that is not enough. It is likely that those affected by sexual and even more so spiritual abuse were in the synod hall, as were perpetrators and cover-ups. Was this discussed in private? Will there ever be a synod that dares to address the abysses in the past and present of this not at all "holy" church and bring them to light? What would it achieve?

by Regina Nagel

The author

Regina Nagel is chairwoman of the Federal Association of Parish Councillors and editor in charge of the association's magazine "das magazin". She is co-editor of a book on spiritual abuse of women in the Catholic Church (Selbstverlust und Gottentfremdung, Patmos 2023).

Disclaimer

The views expressed are solely those of the author.