October 24, 2012: 258 synod fathers were present in the Vatican at Tuesday morning’s
session to hear the first draft of the propositions that will form the core of the
concluding document. The several dozen propositions draw together the main points
that have been raised over the past two weeks as bishops and their lay assistants
try to come up with a blueprint for new evangelisation in the 21st century.
It
was New York’s Cardinal Timothy Dolan who reminded the Synod that Jesus’ first words
to his disciples were ‘Come, follow me’ and that his last words were ‘Go into all
the world and preach the Good News to all creation’. Those two simple commands, ‘Come’
and ‘Go’ are really at the heart of all the hotly debated topics that have been taking
place, both in the synod hall and behind the closed doors of the ‘Circoli Minores’
or small language groups. From these two commands comes the responsibility of each
and every Christian to share the story of our faith and to witness to God’s love through
our daily lives.
Alongside those responsibilities though, a new expression
that emerges is that of ‘the inalienable right of each person to hear the Christian
Gospel’, as well as the right to full religious freedom and the right to convert to
a different religion. Since the Vatican II document ‘Dignitatis Humanae’, the teachings
of the popes of the past half century have developed the idea of religious freedom
as the foundation of all other human rights. Yet it’s the experience of many bishops
working in Islamic, or other countries where the church may be a small minority, that
is calling for a new and bolder rights-based language.
It’s also been suggested
that a commission be set up to represent the Church in different parts of the world
and to document those places where such rights are being denied. There were also references
to education, catechesis for adults, preferential option for the poor and the sick
in view of evangelization in love, and the sacrament of penance as the core of pastoral
action of the Church. Reference was made to the co-responsibility of the laity - including
young people - in the new evangelization and to the recognition of the role of women,
because they keep alive the faith and hope.
The first draft of the propositions
includes a strong emphasis on the ‘inalienable right of schools to be free to teach
the Christian faith and values’. Stress was laid on Ecumenical dialogue, respectful
interfaith relations and an engagement with art and science as well as dialogue with
non-believers. The common denominator however would be a respect for and cooperation
for the promotion of human rights will be the priorities if the Church is to be a
credible witness to the Gospel of peace and reconciliation.
While this synod
is searching for new ways of revitalising the faith, using the latest media technologies,
it’s also looking back to that first band of disciples, who were a very small minority
in a largely hostile world. Just as they took up Jesus’ command to take the Good News
to the far ends of the earth, so this synod will be urging all believers to look again
at their baptismal promises and to make evangelisation a permanent missionary priority
for the Church.