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
Extraordinary Magisterium is an ex cathedra pronouncement of the Roman Pontiff (Immaculate Conception by Pope Pius IX) or a de fide statement of an Ecumenical Council (Justification, by the Council of Trent).
Ordinary Magisterium is the perennial teaching of the Pope and the Bishops in union with him around the world. To capriciously say that only extraordinary Magisterium dogmas are infallible is false and heretical. Lumen Gentium n.25, Humani Generis n.21, both solemnly teach on the supreme teaching authority of the Ordinary Magisterium.
I have to wonder whether this Synod would be considered part of the Ordinary Magisterium.