NEW YORK – A controversial American Jesuit priest has made a robust defence of the forthcoming Vatican synod in the face of claims by critics that it will produce division and schism within the Catholic Church.
Jesuit Fr James Martin (pictured), one of the foremost apologists of the global gay rights agenda in the Church, and among the American delegation chosen by Pope Francis to attend the Synod on Synodality in October, has asked what is schismatic about “asking how the church might grow?”
“I don’t think that asking how the Church might grow – as it has on many issues, like slavery, ecumenical relations, and so on – is in any way schismatic,” Martin, the editor-at-large of <em>America</em> magazine and a longtime leader in outreach to LGBTQ+ Catholics, told Crux.
“In point of fact, this is a process that the Holy Father is asking us to participate in,” Fr Martin explained.
“In doing this, we are in union with the Successor of St Peter, who is asking us to listen to the Holy Spirit. As such, it’s the definition of orthodoxy.”
Bishop Joseph Strickland of Tyler, Texas, warned Catholics of the possibility of a schism in a pastoral letter published on Tuesday.
He told them to be aware of “the evils that threaten us,” and highlighted seven “basic truths” of the faith that are under threat because of the intentions of some involved with the synodal process.
According to Bishop Strickland, those “basic truths” include:
“We must hold fast to these truths and be wary of any attempts to present an alternative to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, or to push for a faith that speaks of dialogue and brotherhood, while attempting to remove the fatherhood of God,” Strickland wrote.
“When we seek to innovate upon what God in His great mercy has given us, we find ourselves upon treacherous ground.”
Bishop Strickland is perhaps the most publicly outspoken U.S. bishop in his criticism of Pope Francis and the synod.
Earlier this year the Vatican released a document of suggested topics for discussion at the assembly that included questions related to greater inclusion for LGBTQ+ people, married priests, and women deacons.
“It is a travesty that these things are even proposed for discussion,” Bishop Strickland wrote on social media.
In his pastoral letter, he took it a step further, calling “schismatic” those who propose changes to the “basic truths”.
“Regrettably, it may be that some will label as ‘schismatics’ those who disagree with the changes being proposed,” Bishop Strickland wrote.
“Be assured, however, that no one who remains firmly upon the plumb of our Catholic faith is a schismatic.”
“Instead, those who would propose changes to that which cannot be changed seek to commandeer Christ’s Church, and they are indeed the true schismatics,” he added.
Fr Martin is among 20 U.S. representatives that will attend the three-week synod gathering this October.
In all, there will be more than 450 people present – including for the first time religious and lay men and women, who will discuss the questions and concerns raised by Catholics worldwide.
Fr Martin is the only U.S. representative tapped to attend by Pope Francis who is not a bishop. On Bishop Strickland’s claims, Martin noted that the synod participants have yet to even meet so it’s hard to say what people’s intentions are, but that the fact remains that the aforementioned working document raised “some important issues that the faithful from around the world have said deserve attention”.
As for his own view on the goal of the synod, Martin said simply: “To listen to the Holy Spirit, who is active and alive in the People of God.”
<em>(Getty Images)</em>
