CV NEWS FEED // Polish Archbishop Stanisław Gądecki criticized the recent Synod on synodality for giving voice to “non-Catholic” views, saying “the faithful need clarity” in a speech interview with Catholic World Report this week.
Gądecki, appointed by Pope John Paul II, is archbishop of Poznań, Poland and a member of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith. He has participated in several synods, including the Synod on Synodality last October.
“Everyone was invited to participate, regardless of their attitude towards the faith and the Catholic Church,” he noted. “Thanks to this approach, the voice of the ‘non-Catholics’ was sometimes more audible than that of the ‘Catholics’,” observed Gądecki.
He also noted that many of Pope Francis’ statements have been “interpreted differently by different theologians and bishops,” causing confusion among the faithful.
“The faithful need clarity in matters of faith and morality. The main thing is that the pope clearly expresses his position, and not by ‘winking’ to those on the left or the right,” he said.
Structure of the Synod
Gądecki found several problems with the structure of the October Synod, from its lack of “authentic conversation” to the incorporation of the German Synodal Path document.
Reflecting on his experience with the Synod small groups, he said:
The requirement was to “listen without prejudice” to the interlocutor and not to enter into polemics. It is an interesting experience, but it does not serve dialogue, that is to say a rational search for the truth… In addition, specific questions were assigned in advance to each table, therefore being assigned to a particular group was tantamount to being excluded from the group. conversation on other topics.
“The group of non-bishops involved was very diverse and the manner in which they were named made it questionable whether their views were representative of a given Church, diocese or parish,” he said. -he continued.
On the opening day of the synod, participants received documents from the German Parliament Synodal Street by email, according to Gądecki.
“Almost all of the demands listed there seriously concern me,” Gądecki said of the documents. “I believe that the Church in Germany is going through the greatest crisis since the Reformation. In turn, I read the sending of the above documents as an attempt to broadcast German problems throughout the Church. »
He expressed his concerns about the German Church to Pope Francis in March this year, after sending a letter expressing his “brotherly concern” to German Bishop Georg Bätzing in February.
Gądecki also criticized the use of the word “inclusiveness” throughout the Synod, noting that although the Gospel is addressed to all, “the invitation of the Lord Jesus did not mean that everyone was welcome on their own terms “.
Although the term “inclusion” was repeated often in the Synod hall, few people questioned what it meant. Meanwhile, before arriving at the synodal hall, the term was clearly defined in the language of secular politics. We should associate it not only with “all-inclusive” vacations, but also with the International Planned Parenthood Federation and the UN Women agenda. The documents of these institutions are unequivocal in challenging the binary division of sex and recognizing all forms of gender expression as equivalent.
“The word “inclusiveness” definitely does not fit into Christian theology. This comes to us from the social sciences. This is where the problem arises,” he argued.
Churches of excess and churches of scarcity
Gądecki observed that at the 2023 Synod the wealthier Western Churches and the rest of the Church came together:
The main questions raised by the Western Churches, particularly the German ones Synodal Street, are those of a consumer civilization in which people have become accustomed to not having to deprive themselves of anything. Churches in developing countries often lack material resources, but neither do they lack faith and witness to life. We therefore have a meeting of Churches of “excess” and Churches of “scarcity”.
These “Churches of excess” often have difficulty with the Church’s teaching on the priesthood and sexuality.
Hence the question: will the synod as a whole be a place of transmission of faith or rather of unbelief? I think Western Christians often doubt that they have something so essential to communicate to people that their fate, that is, salvation or damnation, depends on its acceptance or rejection. So, to avoid being rejected, they try to hide the part of Jesus’ teaching that might encounter opposition and expose only what is shared with the world.
He also criticized the idea that women should become deacons or priests, pointing out that the primary role of female deacons in the early Church was to assist in baptisms by immersion for the sake of modesty.
Asked about those who advocate blessing same-sex couples, Gądecki emphasized that “Christ is the Savior of all men”, even if the “conditions” for a true encounter with Christ involve “turning away from sin and adopt a lifestyle consistent with the Gospel.” »
The task of the Synod was to revive the charism of evangelization both among the laity and among the clergy. The valorization of the laity in the Church is essential, but it cannot lead to the destruction of the hierarchical and apostolic structure of the Church,” he added.
A question of interpretation
Gądecki also addressed the several dubium that the cardinals sent who requested clarification from Pope Francis on several problems.
On the other hand, we have some euphemisms from Pope Francis, which are sometimes interpreted differently by different theologians and bishops. Thus, it is said that the Pope wants something, even if it is nowhere clearly expressed nor – which is very important for the official teaching of the Church – justified in the light of Tradition. In turn, this leads to a situation you mentioned, that same-sex unions are blessed in Belgium, although the Pope has never officially authorized them.
He ended the interview by discussing a saint whom the USCCB recently recommended as a Doctor of the Church.
“St. John Henry Newman, who was grateful that despite many turbulent events the light of faith had reached his generation intact, states that at times in history the torch of the Orthodox faith has been carried by a single man, while all others had gone astray, including the bishops,” he said.
In this image, I think it effectively represents our trust in the Holy Spirit, who will not allow the light lit by Christ to be extinguished or replaced by another light.