We can call it Vatican III. This will be our 23 official council, just like Nicea, Trent, and the rest. An authentic, authoritative, apostolic deliberative gathering of the bishops in union with the pope.
No, not that other thing...that manipulated bureaucratic quagmire, that convoluted faux-parliament of the aggrieved, the confused, the resentful...that word I prefer not to say or write "S.....dality."
Vatican II ended in 1965: it did not define a new church so much as punctuate, conclude, articulate the movements of the Holy Spirit earlier in the 20th century, especially the 20 years since WWII. As that concluded, the world and Church erupted in a perfect storm of catastrophic revolutions and institutionally the Church in the West largely collapsed. Now, 60 years later, we need a new Council.
Here is a proposed agenda:
1. Chinese Catholic Church. Do we abandon it to the Chinese Communist Party? Or do we renew our support for the underground, martyred, heroic Church and revive the warrior ethos of John Paul II? The question answers itself.
2. Sexual Revolution. Do we further accommodate the LGBTQ militancy by blessing sterile, non-spousal sexual unions? Or do we proclaim the edifying, noble ethos of John Paul II? The question answers itself.
3. The Latin Mass. Do we allow it to flourish, along with the ordinary rite, in its appeal to youth and families as Benedict did; or do we repress it authoritatively, out of some confused anxiety, along with Pope Francis. The question answers itself.
4. War with Jihadist Islam. Violent, imperialistic, totalitarian Islam is on the attack around the globe, especially massacring Christians across Africa. Are we to launch a 21st century Crusade to protect human rights and innocent life? Absolutely. This Crusade must be primarily spiritual, then cultural, political, diplomatic and unfortunately militarily forceful. Here we will use our just war principles.
5. Just, Anti-Violent Use of Lethal Force. Do we uphold the traditional Catholic understanding of capital punishment as the responsible use of lethal force prudentially exercised as necessary to protect common good (deterrence, protection, rehabilitation, retribution...all good words); or do we accept Francis' authoritarian dictate that it is now forever and everywhere not permissible? Do we slip into sentimental, pollyannish pacifism that surrenders the use of lethal force to bad actors only and leaves the innocent, the powerless, the common good unprotected?
6. Catholicism, Gender and the Masculine Priesthood. John Paul asserted the inherent masculinity of Holy Orders with the highest level of authority short of an infallible statement from the chair of Peter. Now, after three commissions ruled out even the ordination of women deacons, the issue keeps coming back like a bad penny or some zombie. Perhaps it is time now for an infallible statement to put the issue to rest in the Catholic Church. Those unconvinced are always welcome at the Episcopal Church down the street. Along with this we can use an authoritative teaching on the Divine plan for masculinity/femininity that underlies the entire Catholic system.
7. Desperate Necessity of Small, Catholic Communities. Intimate, sub-parish, Christ-centered, family-supportive, countercultural, sacramental, orthodox and inflamed by charity, they are already flourishing in a world order dominated by mega-corporations/governments, devastated families/communities, and isolated individuals. This topic will be aided by leaders of the Lay Revival Movements. Two sub-questions: First, the significance of the Pentecostal gifts (the Pentecostal Release of the Holy Spirit with prayer in tongues, prophesy, deliverance and other). Secondly, the incorporation into the Church of the Neocatechumenal Way, particularly liturgically.
These burning issues of our time are fiercely contested. It is essential, Holy Father, that you not engage them yourself, in the isolation of the Vatican, but look to the Holy Spirit, working within the college of bishops, the authentic apostolic authority.
Please, in the Synod, no sensitivity-type, small, sharing sessions. Each bishop who wants to speak on an issue deserves five minutes for a succinct statement. Of course periti (experts) will be there to assist. But the decisions will be made by authoritative bishops.
Please, stay directed to your mission; stay in your lane. Pragmatic policy questions...environment, immigration, media, technology, use of lethal force...are the competence of the laity. Your concern is proclamation of the Gospel and the Church's life of charity, worship and holiness.
Our Church and our world are desperate for clarity, decisiveness, courage.
Come Holy Spirit, upon our Holy Father, upon all our bishops!
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