Bishops meet at Vatican for synod; Communion to Catholic politicians on agenda

AP Wire ^ | October 1, 2005 | Nicole Winfield

[NYer]

VATICAN CITY --

Bishops from around the world begin tackling major issues facing the Roman Catholic Church on Sunday, including whether Holy Communion should be given to Catholic politicians who back abortion rights and to divorcees who remarry without getting an annulment.

The priest shortage, and whether celibacy contributes to it, as well as dwindling Mass attendance also are expected to be discussed at the three-week Synod of Bishops, during which bishops will offer recommendations to Pope Benedict XVI on running the church.

The Vatican said Saturday that 256 bishops from 118 countries would participate -- the most ever. In addition, 10 representatives from non-Catholic Christian churches will attend, although they do not have voting rights.

Benedict formally opens the synod with a Sunday Mass, and in many ways the meeting is as much about him as it is about the bishops since it is the pontiff's first major Vatican undertaking since being elected April 19.

Many participants have pointed to the changes Benedict made in organizing the synod as evidence he wants it to be a more collegial exchange of ideas than a meeting with a preordained outcome. Bishops will speak for six minutes rather than eight, allowing for an hour of open discussion at the end of each day.

"That in itself, while subtle, is a real emphasis," said Pittsburgh Bishop Donald Wuerl, one of the American delegates attending the Oct. 2-23 meeting.

Officially, the synod will discuss the Eucharist, or the sacrament of Holy Communion, which Catholics believe is the body and blood of Christ. But a range of issues falls under that.

In the draft document outlining the synod agenda, the Vatican singled out divorcees who remarry without getting an annulment and Catholic politicians who support abortion rights in criticizing those who continue to receive Holy Communion while in a state of "mortal sin."

The Rev. Anthony Figueiredo, a special assistant to the pope during the synod, said he expected debate on both topics but little change in church policy.

"I think what we will be seeing is a very clear affirmation of fidelity to the church's teaching," he said.

The document also noted declining Mass attendance -- in some countries, only 5 percent of the faithful attend -- as well as the priest shortage. It cited statistics showing there was one priest for every 1,797 Catholics in 1978 compared with one priest for every 2,677 Catholics in 2003.

Because of the shortage, several participants said they expected the church's celibacy requirement to be discussed since many believe that more men would join the priesthood if they were allowed to marry.

"They're certainly not going to talk about ordination of women, but I think there might be some discussion of the celibacy law," said the Rev. D. Francis Moloney, an Australian theologian at the synod.

A survey by two U.S. church reform groups of more than 15,000 priests in 55 American dioceses said 67 percent believed that mandatory celibacy should be discussed. Sister Christine Schenk of the FutureChurch group said she planned to deliver the survey results and petitions from parishioners to church officials during the synod.

"It has been very unbelievable to me that steps have not been taken prior to this time to address the problem that has led to parishes closing and clustering," she said.

Benedict invited four Chinese bishops to attend the synod as part of his effort to unify China's divided church. But as of Saturday, the bishops had not submitted the necessary paperwork to attend, Vatican officials said -- an indication the Beijing government would not let them come.

Nevertheless, Monsignor Nikola Eterovic, the general secretary of the synod, remained hopeful.

"We remain open to receiving them, even until the last day," he said.

During previous recent synods, one topic of "sideline" discussions has always been the papal succession. With Benedict now in office, that perennial issue may be replaced by an upcoming Vatican document expected to reaffirm the church's belief that homosexual men should not be ordained.

"The bishops might talk about it personally, but it's not a focal point in the discussion about the Eucharist," said Bishop William Skylstad, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

[NYer]

Should be an interesting synod.

[narses]

Ping.

[NYer]

Ping!

[escapefromboston]

If less people go to Church is there really a Priest shortage?

[StAthanasiustheGreat]

Exactly my point. Considering that only 25% of all Catholics attend Mass regularly, down from 80% or so at the height of the Church in America, it is reasonable to expect 66% less priests, since there are 66% less Catholics to serve.

[Salvation]

Bump for later.

[B Knotts]

The Vatican said Saturday that 256 bishops from 118 countries would participate

Did anyone else here think, "hey, that's 0x100 bishops in hexadecimal?"

[Maeve]

bump

[Petrosius]

Solve the problem of the lack of faith among the laity and the priest shortage will solve itself. We have had a celibate priesthood in the West for 2000 years. If this were the reason for the priest shortage we would have known it long before now.

[WriteOn]

uh, no.

[ELS]

Did anyone else here think, "hey, that's 0x100 bishops in hexadecimal?"

LOL! Or 100000000 in binary (we are using computers, after all).

[SaltyJoe]

"Considering that only 25% of all Catholics attend Mass regularly, down from 80%"

For a few years I've been working in a different city (in a notorious "blue" state too!). When I'm there, I go to a particular Parish. The Mass attendance has been growing steadily. It might surprise you, but the pews aren't filling with a bunch of gray haired old people "cramming for a final". It's actually a bunch of young adult new comers! Most likely, they're not only there to receive Holy Communion, but to find other young adults and marriage material. I don't think it was 9/11 or even the political battlesphere that brought the crowd. I think it was Pope JP#2 and Mel Gibson's Passion of the Christ that did more than all other recent human events combined.

[Diva]

The document also noted declining Mass attendance -- in some countries, only 5 percent of the faithful attend -- as well as the priest shortage. It cited statistics showing there was one priest for every 1,797 Catholics in 1978 compared with one priest for every 2,677 Catholics in 2003.

Yeah, the article states only 5% in some countries so why the belly-aching about shortages of priests? They are about to close a lot of parishes here in the Detroit archdiocese. I've heard numbers from 25 to as many as 50. Heck, we could get rid of some of the more dissodent preists and still have plenty left over to run the parishes.

My guess is the real complaint from these people of futurechurch and such, is that there is a shortage of the "right" kind of priests...you know, certain nuns who have been hoping for so long and those who want to make the Church into their own image.

[NYer]

AP - Sun Oct 2, 7:48 AM ET Pope Benedict XVI celebrates a Mass in St. Peter's Basilica at The Vatican Sunday, Oct. 2, 2005. The pontiff opened a three-week meeting of the world's bishops inaugurating his first major Vatican event since being elected. More than 250 bishops, cardinals, heads of religious orders and others from about 118 countries will take part in the Synod of Bishops. (AP Photo/Plinio Lepri)

AP - Sun Oct 2, 8:12 AM ET Bishops and Cardinals attend a mass celebrated by Pope Benedict XVI in St. Peter's Basilica at The Vatican, Sunday, Oct. 2, 2005. The pontiff opened a three-week meeting of the world's bishops inaugurating his first major Vatican event since being elected. More than 250 bishops, cardinals, heads of religious orders and others from about 118 countries will take part in the Synod of Bishops.(AP Photo/Plinio Lepri)