New newspaper ‘The Synodal Times’ calls for accountability from Bishops

A newly launched monthly newspaper called The Synodal Times says it calling on the Catholic Bishops of Ireland, and elsewhere, to ‘step up and be accountable to their people.’

The brainchild of Publisher/Editor Garry O’Sullivan, The Synodal Times is a monthly publication that informs and in its campaigning approach attempts to rally readers across the country to keep up to date with the ongoing Synodal Process and the need for change and renewal in the Roman Catholic Church in Ireland and abroad.

Following a national listening process between clergy and laity in Ireland and other countries, it is clear that the people have spoken but what’s not clear is will leadership hear their call for renewal and change.

“The old ways of clericalism do not have the answers for today’s Church and only a genuine inclusive and honest engagement will work,” says Publisher and Editor of The Synodal Times, Garry O’Sullivan.

“We don’t need to wait for a Synod of Bishops in Rome in 2023 or for the Pope to issue new decrees for change to happen.

“The answers mostly likely won’t come from Rome, but they have come from the people of faith in Ireland.

“In the Diocese of Ossory, the Synthesis says that ‘Some of what is contained in this first phase of this synthesis is actionable locally or even nationally.’”

“This is because the issues raised by the Synodal Listening Process in Ireland have been around for 40 years and people have been saying the same things over and over, pointing to the same issues and asking for visionary leadership for those 40 years,” he says.

“These are not voices from the periphery, they can’t be dismissed as angry non-practising Catholics, they are the collective voice from the practicing pews.

“And to date their voices have mostly fallen on deaf ears, or having been heard, nothing has happened.

“For 40 years excuses have been made; the time isn’t right, we need to discern further what the Holy Spirit is saying and so on.

“Time and time again, in the Synodal focus groups, people have expressed the fear that this process will go nowhere.

“As Bishop Paul Dempsey of the Diocese of Achonry has said; “After all the listening, after all the consultation, who is ultimately accountable in this process?”

“Let’s open up how important decisions are made and allow laity in, not just those who are paid employees of the Church.

“Let’s talk to those in irregular situations and bring a merciful ear to them.

“Let’s engage with women and give them more responsibility in dioceses and have a presence in the highest decision making committees in Maynooth.

“It’s time for courage and honesty.

“There’s no alternative.”