Don’t try to pigeonhole the synod fathers

You won’t be able to understand what happens at next month’s gathering if you insist on labelling everyone either a liberal or conservative Preparing for next month’s synod has been a most challenging experience given the existing demands on my time and attention of the everyday duties and responsibilities of episcopal ministry. But even more challenging has been the need to keep a healthy balance, not only between justice and mercy, but also between the goals of two distinct groups with the Church. One group at last year’s synod was obviously aiming to achieve a more positive, accepting welcome for people who are in irregular marital and other intimate relationships. Another group (the general public of the Church) wanted the synod to come out with a clear and unambiguous message that the teaching of the Church is being restated, reinforced and applied as faithfully as possible. It is never easy to navigate the shoals when the rocks are not only big and dangerous, but also when they lie under a variety of types of camouflage concealing very cleverly hidden agendas. I am never at ease where people are busy fitting everyone into one or other pigeonhole, camp or category in order to predetermine what they are going to say even before the debate starts. The more controversial the question, the more rigidly they want to confine you to your box. In my experience, no human being can possibly be fitted fully into the “conservative” or “liberal” box. Therefore, it is not only unfair but also untruthful to label people in this way. It is equally unfair to the discussion process itself, because the full truth is never allowed to surface. An example that readily comes to mind is that of my predecessor as Archbishop of Durban, Denis Hurley. He was often conveniently cast as a galloping liberal in matters of moral theology, but in matters liturgical he was as strict as they come. And, as a fierce opponent of apartheid, he was something else entirely when it came to justice and peace. For this reason, I long ago decided that for next month’s meeting of bishops I am going to keep the theme of this second leg of family synod firmly fixed before my eyes. It is: “The Vocation and Mission of the Family in the Contemporary Church and World.” Secondly, I am going to try to be as practical as possible in addressing the problems identified at last October’s synod. I will do this because I want to ensure that the family – in particular, the Catholic family – will play its full role in building up good and solid Catholic marriages.