English Translation of Belgian Synodal Outcomes: Again, Just as Bad As Germany

Decisions of the synod in Belgium published: 5 key points

SUMMARY

Last working year, believers were able to express their ideas for the church in synodal consultations. 5 main points from the national report.

#1 Our dream: a Church in solidarity

We dream of a Church that can play a unifying role, that is open to life-giving places of worship and attentive to the changes in society. A Church that experiences solidarity and mutual support, that is open to other philosophies of life. We dream of a Church that is inclusive, encouraging, welcoming to all, without distinction or judgment, compassionate and joyful. A Church that sends us into the world and goes to people where they live.

#2 Diversity in the Priesthood

The Catholic Church should be even more committed to diversity in its teaching. As in the Eastern Catholic Churches, married priesthood should also be possible in the Roman Catholic Church. In great respect for Christian Churches that, after deep deliberation, made the decision to open the ordained ministry to women candidates, we ask for further reflection so that in the future the Catholic Church may recognize the vocation of women to the priesthood.

Indeed, the exclusion of certain topics from the theological agenda is at odds with a synodal culture in our Church.

#3 Don’t condemn relationships and sexuality

For cohabiting couples, homosexual couples, and remarried persons separated from marriage, it is requested that the Church answer their demand for recognition (ritual and social) from an interpretation of relationships and sexuality that is more consistent with the commandment of love.

#4 Young people and newcomers

The expectation of young people is to be a contemporary Church, with attention to understandable liturgy in which they can participate. They expect us to focus on (digital) communication and authentic witnesses of faith who teach them the Christian story.

There is a widely shared sense that the message of the Church does not connect with the lives of people in our society today. For people who are outside the Christian faith, we hardly succeed in giving an inspiring witness to what drives us. For those who want to come closer, we fall back on proclamation and catechesis that are not catchy enough and therefore do not recruit. For those who come to celebrate, we use liturgical language that alienates. We have to work at translating and interpreting the Good News for the concrete context of our society.

#5 Church is so much more than Sunday Mass

There is also a need for new places, outside the parishes, to experience faith and build bridges between different paths of interiority, to walk the path of Christian prayer.