Rethinking the Functions of the Synod of Bishops

Christoph Cardinal Schönborn, O.P.

Function: Archbishop of Wien, Austria

Title: Cardinal Priest of Gesù Divin Lavoratore

Birthdate: Jan 22, 1945	Country: Austria

Elevated: Feb 21, 1998	More information: www.catholic-hierarchy.org, Stephanscom.at, The Schonborn Site

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Rethinking the Functions of the Synod of Bishops
Sept 12, 2004
Schönborn then surprised me by the vehemence with which he favoured “a rethinking of the functions of the synod”, the gathering of bishops’ representatives every four years which is widely criticised for being stage-managed.

Schönborn then surprised me by the vehemence with which he favoured “a rethinking of the functions of the synod”, the gathering of bishops’ representatives every four years which is widely criticised for being stage-managed. “It’s a beautiful instrument of collegiality; it has served tremendously the communion among the bishops, between the local Churches, but is now 37 years old and it should be rethought – mainly the functioning of the synod.”

How? “There should be more plenary discussion, more consultation on issues developing an atmosphere of a real debate, a real exchange, and to be liberated a little bit from that narrow framework that has developed in the last decades.”

But then he backtracks when I ask him if that means less curial control. “No, there is no curial control – I mean, there is a close collaboration, the synod brings the results to the knowledge of the Holy Father and he then decides how to come to the conclusions.” What he wants, he makes clear, is a reform “not of the institution but its functioning”.

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