Sir, – It was exhilarating to listen to Mary McAleese and so many other gifted women addressing the alternative synod on synodality called Spirit Unbounded just outside the fortified walls of the Vatican where the official synod is meeting (“Mary McAleese: Vatican authority over Catholics is ‘legally and morally questionable’”, News, October 13th).
This assembly of Spirit Unbounded is made up of Catholics from around the globe who were not invited to the Vatican but which is discussing all the issues facing the official Vatican synod. Unlike the Vatican meeting across the road, all our discussions here are not subject to secrecy or restriction.
Hopefully the outcome of this assembly will complement the parallel process of the official Vatican synod to bring about meaningful change in the Catholic Church. – Yours, etc,
BRENDAN BUTLER,
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Rome.
Sir, – I agree with Mary McAleese with respect to her comments on the Vatican synod on synodality.
I attend church weekly in Canada. Week after week I hear that the synod is all about inclusivity.
What does that mean?
From a Canadian perspective it appears as if it includes just those that are already within the preferred zone.
It misses entirely those Catholic faithful that bear allegiance to the Catholic tradition but have been alienated by a constant stream of narrow perspectives.
I believe that the Catholic Church would have been much better served with a synod on outreach rather than a synod of inclusivity of the chosen. – Yours, etc,
GERARD WALSH,
Port Elgin,
Ontario,
Canada.