Keep in mind that there are representatives from the Orthodox Churches, and other denominations, present at the Synod. They have no voting privilege, though.
Vatican, Oct. 12 (CWNews.com) - The Major Archbishop of the Ukrainian Catholic Church, who had suggested that the next Synod of Bishops should discuss the Eastern Christian churches, has explained that he was referring to the Eastern Catholic churches. The question of whether or not Orthodox bishops should be invited to take part in such a Synod, he said, should be left to the Pope.
Cardinal Lubomyr Husar had drawn considerable attention with his October 10 address to the Synod of Bishops, in which he introduced his proposal for the next Synod's topic. The Ukrainian prelate had suggested that the Synod discuss how the Eastern churches, Catholic and Orthodox, could be drawn together.
Some accounts of Cardinal Husar's talk had created the impression that he envisioned a joint Synod, in which both Catholic and Orthodox bishops would take part. In an October 11 statement, the Ukrainian cardinal clarified his point. "I asked for a special Synod dedicated to the Eastern churches," he said. "But whether it should be extened to the Orthodox churches, that is for the Pope to decide."
Cardinal Husar made his clarifying remarks during the hour of free debate on Tuesday evening. Synod officials have set a policy of releasing only the general topics raised during these periods of free debate, without naming the bishops who spoke. An exception was made in the case of Cardinal Husar's remarks, since he was trying to correct possible misinterpretation of his earlier remarks.
http://www.directionstoorthodoxy.org/mod/news/view.php?article_id=5900