Time will tell regarding the Synod. I haven’t made comments on how I think it will turn out because I just don’t know. However, I know Kasper’s comments were quite different and Francis had much positive to say about him and his points though.
I’ve been very concerned about the synod for just those reasons. I realize that the pope himself (when speaking ex cathedra), and ecumenical councils, when in union with the pope, cannot err on matters of faith or morals. And certainly this qualifies as both faith and morals.
HOWEVER... My fears (and expectations?) are based on the fact that a synod is not an ecumenical council, and the pope would not formally have to speak ex cathedra for the synod’s results to be put into effect. This is especially true if they construct some sort of fig leaf that would allow them to say they hadn’t changed any doctrine, when, in practice, they would do exactly that.
Such a fig leaf might be to allow the local parish priest to “investigate” the first marriage and issue a “declaration of nullity” on his own authority. And it would allow them to claim not to have changed doctrine, thereby “preserving the faith”. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist (or a theologian) to see where that would lead. And how “pastoral” they could claim to be. Most people would not be able to see that the bishops had no clothes, and would just go along. People who understand the truth would become more and more marginalized. The true Church would be come an even more tattered remnant than it already is.
is that the bishops will find some sort of fig leaf to hide beh