No Synod Transparency from Irish Bishops
Pope Francis has asked us all to take part in the Synodal process and let our voices be
heard. But it is our bishops who will finalise the Synthesis or summary for Ireland. So
We Are Church decided to ask our bishops do they plan to make public their
Synthesis?
We wrote to the Executive Secretary of the Irish Bishops Conference on 21 Jan 2022
and Msgr. Joe Mc Guinness replied on 31 Jan 2022:
‘Thank you for your letter. I will bring it to the attention of the Bishops for discussion at the next
General Meeting of the Irish Bishops’ Conference in March.’
Last week we read the reports of our bishop’s March meeting: But there was no reply
to our simple question: Will the Synthesis of the Irish Bishop’s National Conference be
made public?
We know that almost all dioceses will be publishing their diocesan synthesis, as
strongly recommended by the Vatican’s Synod Office. But the Vatican Synod Office
makes no recommendation for publication of any National Synthesis.
No doubt the bishops have a busy agenda. But the Synod is just now being discussed
in parishes across Ireland. Transparency and accountability are essential to help
restore so much trust that has been lost in our bishops. People should know before
they take part whether the National Synthesis will be published or not, as the National
Synthesis is the summary for all of Ireland. How else will we know how our views are
being presented?
Colm Holmes
Spokesperson
WAC Ireland