The Catholic Church had the world's attention for two weeks as it brainstormed new ways to minister to its flock both inside and outside the fold. That was the goal of the Synod on the Family, but even before the well-covered meeting concluded, it was already drawing criticism, attention and even great excitement from unexpected corners of the globe.
Now, as media attention tapers off, the real challenge for church leaders who attended the Synod is to bring its ideas and debates back to their local churches and to church members at every level.
Cardinal Vincent Nichols, influential head of the church in Westminster, England, certainly hit the ground running. He wrote to Catholics in his jurisdiction, describing a central approach outlined by the Synod: "In trying to walk alongside people in difficult or exceptional situations, it is important to see clearly and with humility all the good aspects of their lives. That is what comes first," he said, adding, "From this point, we learn to move together towards conversion and towards the goodness of life that God has for us..."
Cardinal Nichols dispelled the idea that Pope Francis was disappointed by the Synod - and that it was primarily marked by strife.
"Pope Francis set the tone. He asked us to look reality in the eye; to speak openly from the heart; to listen humbly and respectfully to each other," said Nichols. "This is what we did. There was no rancor, no contestation. There were disagreements, of course. But he told us to live through the experience with tranquility and trust. And we did."
Upon the Synod's end, the president of the American bishops conference, Archbishop Joseph Kurtz, blogged on his local church site about an urgent need to restore hope and confidence to Catholic couples following Church teaching. He listed a second urgent takeaway from the Synod - the need to accompany people in the world who struggle, meeting them where they are.
Washington Cardinal Donald Wuerl told Catholic News Service he expects to see more fruitful discussion between now and October 2015, when a follow-up meeting takes place in Rome.
"We've had such an airing, such an expression of the problematic," Cardinal Wuerl said, "that when this [final Synod report] is sent out to bishops conferences all over the world, I think we're going to be hearing more and more the positive side... the wonder of what the church has experienced and presented from the beginning."
Kathryn Elliott covers the Vatican, Pope Francis and all things related to the Catholic Church for HNGN. She is a producer for EWTN News Nightly, an international cable news show airing weeknights at 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. EST on the Global Catholic Television Network. Kathryn has reported for the National Catholic Register, St. Paul Pioneer Press, Catholic Spirit, The Minnesota Daily and The Word Among Us Magazine. She has a BA in professional journalism from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. Kathryn lives in Washington D.C. Follow her on Twitter at @kmelliott90.
