Hope and challenge as second assembly approaches

Published in the Southern Cross Newspaper

by Fr James McEvoy

I am looking forward to the week and expect it to be both a challenge and an occasion of great hope. Let me explain those two things.

First, the challenge. Our Church is diverse – culturally, socially, and in terms of our various approaches to faith. Sure, we are ‘one in Christ Jesus’, but we have different insights into the faith, and see ourselves called in different directions. So, the members of the Plenary Council will be challenged to come to agreement on ‘what the Spirit is saying’ to the Church. The process of dialogue will involve each member listening deeply to the perspectives of others, attempting to understand the world on the others’ terms. Real dialogue is intense and sometimes exhilarating. But it won’t be perfect.

I’m reminded of a meeting of theologians I attended in Melbourne in 2016, shortly after the bishops had announced their plan for a Plenary Council. A few theologians in the group seemed cynical that such a gathering could be effective. But the late Fr Denis Edwards, a dear friend and colleague to many here in Adelaide, said in his measured way that this is the first time all Australian Catholics have been asked to formally share with their bishops their sense of what it is to live the Christian faith, and to consider how that faith might renew the life of the Church. Denis said that we’re not going to get this right the first time – we will only gradually become what Pope Francis calls ‘a church that listens’, ‘a synodal church’. Denis was right – again (although, let me add, he wasn’t always right!). The second assembly won’t be perfect.

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