Survey: US Catholics have little to no idea what ‘synodality’ is

[Michie]

CV NEWS FEED // American Catholics have little to no idea how to define “synodality,” according to a recent survey that attempted to measure the success of the ongoing Synod on Synodality.

Catholic Laity and Clergy for Renewal conducted a survey among 537 U.S. Catholics of varying ages and genders, asking them “In your own words, describe what authentic synodality means in a Catholic context.”

The survey told participants to answer “I don’t know” if they could not define synodality.

“It immediately became apparent that most rank-and-file Catholics have little understanding of synodality,” Jayd Henricks, President of Catholic Laity and Clergy for Renewal wrote. “Of the 537 respondents, only 39 said they did know and gave a response that could (very generously) be described as having anything to do with synodality. So 7%, at best, knew what synodality is.”

Synodality has been described by the Vatican as a global process that encourages Catholics to “walk together” and spread the Gospel under the direction of the Holy Spirit. The three-year process of the Synod on Synodalityhas proved to be contentious, as it has forced Church officials and laity to focus heavily on accepting same-sex attracted individuals or ordaining women as priests.

Continued below.

Survey: US Catholics have little to no idea what ‘synodality’ is

American Catholics have little to no idea how to define “synodality,” according to a recent survey that attempted to measure the success of the ongoing Synod on Synodality.

catholicvote.org

 

[Bob Crowley]

I don't know what "synodality" is either.

As far as I'm concerned it's an eccelesiastical buzzword.

It hasn't been explained very well. And I suspect a lot of Australian Catholics would be no better informed than I am or our US counterparts are.

 

[fide]

CV NEWS FEED // American Catholics have little to no idea how to define “synodality,” according to a recent survey that attempted to measure the success of the ongoing Synod on Synodality.

Catholic Laity and Clergy for Renewal conducted a survey among 537 U.S. Catholics of varying ages and genders, asking them “In your own words, describe what authentic synodality means in a Catholic context.”

The survey told participants to answer “I don’t know” if they could not define synodality.

“It immediately became apparent that most rank-and-file Catholics have little understanding of synodality,” Jayd Henricks, President of Catholic Laity and Clergy for Renewal wrote. “Of the 537 respondents, only 39 said they did know and gave a response that could (very generously) be described as having anything to do with synodality. So 7%, at best, knew what synodality is.”

Synodality has been described by the Vatican as a global process that encourages Catholics to “walk together” and spread the Gospel under the direction of the Holy Spirit. The three-year process of the Synod on Synodalityhas proved to be contentious, as it has forced Church officials and laity to focus heavily on accepting same-sex attracted individuals or ordaining women as priests.

Continued below.

Survey: US Catholics have little to no idea what ‘synodality’ is

American Catholics have little to no idea how to define “synodality,” according to a recent survey that attempted to measure the success of the ongoing Synod on Synodality.

catholicvote.org

"Synodality" is, sadly, merely one more concept that U.S. Catholics know not enough about. We have been given so little formation in the Faith, for several generations now, that one would think that leadership in the Church is intentional about it. In this case, I believe, what we are lacking about the current meaning of synodality is the danger of it to the Faith.

The Faithful must pray, pray, pray as the little children of Fatima heard rightly in their little hearts - pray and make sacrifices for the poor sinners. The catechesis we most need in the Church today, in my humble judgment, is spiritual even more than doctrinal. We do not know how to pray, and how to grow in the life of prayer. We need to turn, and become like little children:

Mt 18:3 and said, "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

 

[boughtwithaprice]

"Synodality" is, sadly, merely one more concept that U.S. Catholics know not enough about. We have been given so little formation in the Faith, for several generations now, that one would think that leadership in the Church is intentional about it. In this case, I believe, what we are lacking about the current meaning of synodality is the danger of it to the Faith.

The Faithful must pray, pray, pray as the little children of Fatima heard rightly in their little hearts - pray and make sacrifices for the poor sinners. The catechesis we most need in the Church today, in my humble judgment, is spiritual even more than doctrinal. We do not know how to pray, and how to grow in the life of prayer. We need to turn, and become like little children:

Totally agree. Without prayer, we cannot talk to God, and if we do not talk with Him, how can we say we know him?

I don’t know your opinion, fide. What do you think of Theresa of Avila and contemplative prayer?

John of the Cross, Ascent of Mt Carmel?

Alphonse Liguori Preparation for Death?

There is such a rich history of saints to study and Imitate.

 

[fide]

Totally agree. Without prayer, we cannot talk to God, and if we do not talk with Him, how can we say we know him?

I don’t know your opinion, fide. What do you think of Theresa of Avila and contemplative prayer?

John of the Cross, Ascent of Mt Carmel?

Alphonse Liguori Preparation for Death?

There is such a rich history of saints to study and Imitate.

There is a great treasure entrusted to us, yes! I really like the simplicity of St. John Vianney, "Prayer is nothing other than union with God." John of the Cross, and Teresa of Avila, give us such completeness of the "science" if we can (respectively, in these dark days, use this word here) the "science" of spirituality, that ignorance of them and their contribution to the Church is horrific and tragic.

These days are truly dark, very dark. We must keep close to Holy Scripture and Sacred Tradition; wolves and hired men abound even in high places, but the Lord will never abandon us.

 

[boughtwithaprice]

There is a great treasure entrusted to us, yes! I really like the simplicity of St. John Vianney, "Prayer is nothing other than union with God." John of the Cross, and Teresa of Avila, give us such completeness of the "science" if we can (respectively, in these dark days, use this word here) the "science" of spirituality, that ignorance of them and their contribution to the Church is horrific and tragic.

These days are truly dark, very dark. We must keep close to Holy Scripture and Sacred Tradition; wolves and hired men abound even in high places, but the Lord will never abandon us.

Science is not a dirty word. True science is not opposed to religion. What passes today for science is narrative, which is inference, another word for belief, myth, legend

True science observes and reports, it does not speculate then manipulate the data to fit the speculation. When I researched the data, there is so much that we do not know that we are told we know as fact. Scientific materialism is a mind numbing lie

The Bible is dead on correct, it is God’s word after all, when it says because they loved not the truth, God will send them strong delusion, and they will be given a lie to believe

Then they use ridicule and peer pressure to enforce the lie, but the emperor has no clothes


We have 2000 years of history and the example of countless saints, so we are without excuse. Sola scriptura is proven false, we need the apostolic teaching

 

[RileyG]

I don't know what "synodality" is either.

As far as I'm concerned it's an eccelesiastical buzzword.

It hasn't been explained very well. And I suspect a lot of Australian Catholics would be no better informed than I am or our US counterparts are.

My thoughts exactly.