Cardinal Mario Grech is the man Pope Francis has placed in charge of the worldwide synod and in this episode, I talked to him about the tensions that had been unleashed by the process. The synod was never going to be plain sailing and disagreement among bishops about the direction of the Church has now spilt out into the open in ways not seen for centuries. A German synodal process, which is focussing on Catholic sexual teaching, the use of power and the role of women, has been the target of heavy criticism by a number of bishops who believe it is on the path to schism. On the other hand, synod reflections in Catholic communities across the world have seen repeated calls for the Church to re-imagine its pastoral priorities and tackle these contested issues. But the Maltese cardinal was remarkably calm and upbeat when we spoke. He sees the synod as offering a space for disagreements to be aired, where nothing is swept under the carpet and no one is excluded. The task of the Church, he stressed, is to listen to what the Holy Spirit is trying to say at this moment in history. “Nothing really worries me in so far that we respect the fundamental principles of the Catholic Church,” he tells me. “Synodality offers that space where we can share our fears and our joys, our certainties and our doubts, our dreams. Obviously, there are dreams that can be realised, others that cannot. There are dreams that can be realised tomorrow, others need more time.” What really hurts him, however, is those who see this as simply a project of the Francis pontificate which can soon be forgotten. No, Cardinal Grech insists, the synod is “laying the foundations of the Church for tomorrow.” This is Episode 5 of The Church's Radical Reform, the first podcast series on "synodality", which is telling the story of the reform process. The series is presented by Christopher Lamb. Christopher is the Vatican Correspondent for The Tablet and is a doctoral researcher in synodality at the Centre for Catholic Studies, Durham University. The series is sponsored by the Centre for Catholic Studies at Durham University in partnership with The Tablet.
Much of the media focus on the synod has been on western churches with the underlining question centred on how the process can reverse declining congregations and respond to the abuse crisis. But what does it all mean for Africa, a part of the Catholic world where churches are overflowing and vocations booming? Is the synod having any impact? In this episode, these questions are put to two leading Catholic figures: Fr Agbonkhianmeghe Orobator, the President of the Jesuit Conference of Africa and Madagascar, and Dominique Yon, a youth ministry co-ordinator in the Cape Town archdiocese and a Vatican adviser. Both of them make a strong case for why a synodal Church is needed in Africa, how it can help implement the reforms of the Second Vatican Council and include marginalised voices such as those from the LGBTQ community. We also hear about how synodality gives the tools for the Church to become a peacemaker in a continent often scarred by civil war and conflict. Prepare to be surprised by their answers. Producers: Silvia Sacco and Jamie Weston This is Episode 4 of the podcast entitled The Church's Radical Reform. The podcast explores the "synodal" process, by which the Pope is asking Catholics to help re-imagine the future of the Church, and grapple with questions such as the role of women, evangelisation, priesthood, serving the marginalised, and global governance. It has the potential to reshape the Church forever. The series is presented by Christopher Lamb. Christopher is the Vatican Correspondent for The Tablet and is a doctoral researcher in synodality at the Centre for Catholic Studies, Durham University. The series is sponsored by the Centre for Catholic Studies at Durham University in partnership with The Tablet.
In Episode 3 of the Church's Radical Reform, Christopher Lamb speaks to Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga, the Archbishop of Tegucigalpa, Honduras and a member of Pope Francis' council of cardinal advisers. The Church in Latin and Central America has been at the forefront of reform in Catholicism and Cardinal Oscar explains how the synodal process is something “totally new”. He discusses how synodal reforms are being implemented, while also talking about Pope Francis’ plans to reform the Vatican. A keen saxophonist and musician, he says the Church must aim to create a symphony out of a cacophony of different voices. The series is presented by Christopher Lamb. Christopher is the Rome Correspondent for The Tablet and is a doctoral researcher in synodality at the Centre for Catholic Studies, Durham University. The series is supported by the Centre for Catholic Studies at Durham University in partnership with The Tablet. Producers: Silvia Sacco and Jamie Weston
Bishop Dunn Memorial Lecture 2022, presented as part of the Ushaw Lecture Series. Archbishop Wilson is introduced by Prof. Paul D. Murray, Dean-Director of the Centre for Catholic Studies at Durham University. The recording is produced by Premier Christian Radio, www.premierchristianradio.com
Pope Francis has launched the most ambitious Catholic renewal project for 60 years with a listening exercise that aims to give every member of the 1.3 billion Church a stake in its future. Through a “synodal” process, the Pope is asking Catholics to help re-imagine the future of the Church, and grapple with questions such as the role of women, evangelisation, priesthood, serving the marginalised and global governance. It has the potential to reshape the Church forever. This is the first podcast series on synodality and will tell the story of the reform process. The synod process is opening up discussion about the role of female leadership in the Church. In this episode, Christopher Lamb discusses what shape these roles could take, the position of women in early Christianity and why a “synodal” Church is a more inclusive one. To find out more, he speaks to Professor Phyllis Zagano, who served on Pope Francis’ commission looking at female deacons, Nicola Brady, who has been tasked by the Irish bishops to lead their national synod, and Susan Pascoe, an adviser to the Vatican and expert in church governance. The executive producer is Silvia Sacco and the producer is Renardo Schlegelmilch. The series is presented by Christopher Lamb. Christopher is the Rome Correspondent for The Tablet and is a doctoral researcher in synodality at the Centre for Catholic Studies, Durham University. The series is sponsored by the Centre for Catholic Studies at Durham University in partnership with The Tablet.
Pope Francis has launched the most ambitious Catholic renewal project for 60 years with a listening exercise that aims to give every member of the 1.3 billion Church a stake in its future. Through a “synodal” process, the Pope is asking Catholics to help re-imagine the future of the Church, and grapple with questions such as the role of women, evangelisation, priesthood, serving the marginalised and global governance. It has the potential to reshape the Church forever. This is the first podcast series on synodality and will tell the story of the reform process. Episode 1 focuses on why a global synodal process is needed, what it might achieve and the opposition it is already facing. Among those interviewed for this episode are Sr Nathalie Becquart, from the synod office in Rome, Fr Hans Zollner, the Church's leading expert child protection, and Fr Jan Nowotnik, Director of Mission for the Bishops' Conference of England and Wales. The series is presented by Christopher Lamb. Christopher is the Rome Correspondent for The Tablet and is a doctoral researcher in synodality at the Centre for Catholic Studies, Durham University. The series is sponsored by the Centre for Catholic Studies at Durham University in partnership with The Tablet. The producers are Silvia Sacco and Jamie Weston.
1569 refers to the Northern Rebellion (or Rising of the Northern Earls), an event tied to the excommunication of Queen Elizabeth I by Pope Pius V in 1570, and arguably the decisive rupture between the Church of England and the Catholic Church in communion with the Bishop of Rome. The city, cathedral and county of Durham was at the centre of the uprising of 1569. This presentation is by Prof. Eamon Duffy (University of Cambridge, Emeritus).
The Revd Prof. Paul Fiddes (Regent’s Park College, University of Oxford): Between Rome and Reformation: Theology and Spirituality in Shakespeare’s Drama
This lecture is presented by the Revd Prof. Paul Avis (Durham University and University of Exeter), and is followed by a response by Dr Theodora Hawksley, CJ.
Sr Prof. Susan Wood, SCL (Marquette University): Learning to Walk the Way Together: Anglican-Catholic Relations in Light of ARCIC III Response: The Revd Canon Dr Peter Sedgwick (ARCIC III)