Synod of bishops on the family: it’s arguably legitimate to have questions ...

Lineamenta Raises More Concerns

About Synodal Process

by Edward Pentin

The lineamenta – or preparatory document – for next year’s ordinary synod of bishops on the family that the Vatican published Tuesday is raising further questions about the way the synodal process is being handled.

Usually the secretary general of the Synod of Bishops holds a press briefing on the day of a lineamenta’s publication, and the media is notified of its release sometime before the event. The lineamenta is usually then ready right away in various languages and sent to bishops conferences, religious superiors, laity and others.

But in this case, no briefing took place, the document appeared unexpectedly on the Vatican website, and then in Italian only. The press was given no opportunity to ask questions about the document. It waspublished in English today.

This may simply be due to the fact that the final report of the extraordinary synod held in October serves as the basis of the lineamenta for next year’s ordinary assembly. The only addition is a series of 61 questions which the Vatican says are intended “to facilitate the reception of the synodal document" and help examine the themes they raise.

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