Sir, – In a letter (November 30th), Fr Gerry Campbell and Dr Tony Hanna, listed a number of actions which had been instigated by Cardinal Brady and Archbishop Martin, seemingly aimed at engaging "the faithful in consultation on the important subject of the forthcoming extraordinary Synod on the family".
As one of the so-called faithful, I read their letter with interest, because up until this point I had not heard a single word about this “important subject” while attending weekly Mass in St Patrick’s cathedral in Armagh.
Their letter asserted an announcement would be made “at all Masses” at the weekend, encouraging parishioners to complete the Vatican questionnaire, either online or on paper. At Mass in Armagh on Saturday evening (November 30th) I waited expectantly for such an announcement. It never came! The survey was not mentioned, nor was there any reference to it in the weekly parish newsletter. If the announcement wasn’t made in the cathedral of the ecclesiastical capital of Ireland, it doesn’t fill me with any great confidence that it was widely made.
As a deadline of December 8th seemingly has been set for the faithful to complete and return their questionnaires, I can’t imagine that the directors of the Armagh diocese’s Pastoral Renewal and Family Ministry will have to spend too much time reading through them before they can complete their report to the cardinal.
If this is how the Irish bishops intend seeking out the views of their parishioners on a range of critically important issues, then poor Pope Francis really does have his work cut out for him! – Yours, etc,
GERARD BURNS,
Richhill,
Co Armagh.