Synod proposes reforming canon law to give greater weight to laity, women in the Church

[aussie_aussie_oi_oi]

The General Secretariat of the Synod published on Wednesday the final report of the Canonical Commission, which explicitly endorses several proposals to amend the Code of Canon Law related to the participation of laymen and laywomen in the life and governance of the Church.

Specifically, the document supports changes to canons concerning the ability of lay faithful to exercise “offices, roles, and ministries within the Church for which they are qualified and competent, including in the realm of ecclesiastical governance.”

The text, originally drafted in Italian and also available in English, is not binding and must now be examined by Pope Leo XIV. It is one of the reports prepared by the 10 study groups created by Pope Francis in 2024 as part of the Synod on Synodality. These groups are dissolved once their work has been completed and published.

The commission tasked with studying the reforms was coordinated by Archbishop Filippo Iannone, prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops and president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, and included prominent experts in canon law. Its members included Jesuit Cardinal Gianfranco Ghirlanda; Dutch canon lawyer Myriam Wijlens; Monsignor Matteo Visioli, referendary of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura; Monsignor Giacomo Incitti, professor at the Pontifical Urbaniana University; Hungarian canonist Péter Szabó; Father Alphonse Borras; Professor José San José Prisco, dean of the Faculty of Canon Law at the Pontifical University of Salamanca; Father Benedict Ndubueze Ejeh, dean of the St. Pius X Faculty of Canon Law in Venice, Italy; and Italian Father Gianluca Merlini, secretary of the commission.

The commission considers that a “profound reform of the canonical legal system” is not necessary in order to implement the ideas that emerged from the synodal process. According to the report, “the Church’s current legal system already provides adequate provisions for greater recognition and designation of lay persons to assume roles and functions of ecclesial co-responsibility together with the pastors.” Nevertheless, it acknowledges that these provisions are “often overlooked” and, in some cases, “require greater normative affirmation to be more practical and effective.”
For this reason, the proposals seek to adapt certain aspects of canon law to the conclusions of the synod, especially regarding the participation of laypeople in the Church’s mission.

The document also insists that the synodal process “does not diminish the decision-making authority of the bishop, the college of bishops, or the pope, but integrates the contribution of the People of God, giving the synodal act a truly communal character.”
Among the canons examined are Canons 204, 208, and 212, which affirm the equal dignity of all the baptized and their right to participate in the life of the Church; Canons 228 and 230, which regulate the possibility of laypeople exercising ecclesiastical offices and ministries; Canon 145, concerning ecclesiastical offices; and Canon 275, which promotes collaboration between clergy and laity.

https://www.ewtnnews.com/vatican/synod- ... the-church

[Doom]

Let's remember that the word "Synodality" has never been defined, and the irony is that the guy who uses that word more than anyone, Cardinal Fernandez, wrote a lengthy document saying that several titles of Mary, some of which have been used for centuries by Popes and ecumenical councils, are too vague to be used.

Yet none of those Marian titles is as vague as Fernandez's favorite word, "synodality," a word that has been in use for a decade, and not only has it never been defined, but there has never even been an attempt to define it, nor has there been any attempt to explain where "The Synodal Path" is supposed to lead the Church... a path to WHAT exactly? No one knows, certainly not Fernandez, apparently it is a path to nowhere.

[p.falk]

How can women possibly participate more?

I have a number of parishes I go to in WI and women are regularly the 1st and 2nd readers. They make up the majority if not exclusively all the extraordinary eucharistic ministers.

All of the church office positions are entirely women.

offices, roles, and ministries within the Church for which they are qualified and competent, including in the realm of ecclesiastical governance.

Specifically what?

[Highlander]

During conversion, I visited several parishes. Every person I interacted with, prior to talking to the Priest (when I was able to), was a woman. Some of whom seemed to think that their mission was to be a barrier between the Priest and anybody else.

[anawim]

I wouldn't want the pay cut.

Besides, they say that a mother's work is never done, but working for the church is just one step behind. The more you do, the more they ask you to do. I had to put my foot down, and say, 'find somebody else'.

No. Just no!

[Highlander]

The more you do, the more they ask you to do.
...
No. Just no!

My experience exactly. Directly and indirectly. I understand the bind that those depending upon volunteers face. One can either find and develop other volunteers or depend upon someone dependable. It is not being asked to do more; it is a demand that you do more. And, if responding with a "No.", the response often ranges from chiding to overt anger.

Later in life, I would evaluate the reactions of the requester. And my place in the organization. If I decided that I had done enough, that the requester was not going to accept repeated noes, and that I was no longer prepared to deal with endless demands, my reply was: "Let me simplify this for you. I quit." (This is, BTW, an actual quote.) And I would. Everything I was volunteering for. And return to just being a member.

I recall volunteering to work a booth sponsored by my workplace at a festival or carnival or some such. I signed up for a two hour shift. I told the organizer that I would work two hours, no more. I was told that my relief was assured. Having been there and done that, I responded that, if my relief did not arrive, I would close the booth and leave. No relief appeared. I waited a half hour more and closed the booth. The fallout was intense, including a complaint to the workplace head that I had reneged on my commitment. I rode it out and joined the ranks of the non-volunteers.

The point is that you need to set hard boundaries. And accept that some others will not accept them.

[Obi-Wan Kenobi]

Ed Condon of the Pillar says he thinks this proposal is dead in the water. Pope Leo will not approve it.

[Doom]

Ed Condon of the Pillar says he thinks this proposal is dead in the water. Pope Leo will not approve it.

I certainly hope that is true