Why I Wrote About the Synod on Synodality and LGBTQ+ Issues

The simple answer is because I love the Church.  I love the Church that our Lord and Savior established and which has been so instrumental in my life.   I want our One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church to remain One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic…for the good of humanity and for the good of my family and for all those future members of our Church. I want what’s best for our Church for the greater glory of God and for the salvation of all souls…past, present and future.

My purpose is not to maliciously criticize the Church and its leaders nor stand in judgment of them.  In fact, not so long ago, I would have thought it inconceivable for me to criticize the Church and its leaders.   Yet, some disturbing and alarming trends are occurring in our Church that have prompted, even compelled, me to speak out. 

I recognize that the Church, though created by the Son of God and inspired by the Holy Spirit, is an institution of humans and humans have faults and shortcomings.  The Church and its members can never achieve perfection in this life; yet we both should strive for Heavenly perfection while still in this life. 

The Church must always strive to be everything that Christ intended for her to be.  Right now, the Church needs to intensify its efforts to purify and sanctify itself as corrupting influences are gaining within the Church.

So my purpose for writing about the Synod on Synodality and my other concerns is to draw attention to these serious issues with the goal of hopefully affecting some positive outcomes for the good of our Church. 

It is with great reluctance that I write about such matters.  I am not well versed in the Catholic Church’s Code of Canon Law which governs how our Church operates.  So, I must give credit to Mark Mallett and Professor Daniel O’Connor for introducing me to Canon No. 212 in one of their “Countdown to the Kingdom” podcasts a couple years ago.

Book Two, Part One, Title I of the Code of Canon Law discusses “The Obligations and Rights of All The Christian Faithful.”   Specifically, Canon No. 212 deals with criticism of Church leadership by the faithful.   See https://www.vatican.va/archive/cod-iuris-canonici/eng/documents/cic_lib2-cann208-329_en.html#TITLE_I .

“Can. 212 §1. Conscious of their own responsibility, the Christian faithful are bound to follow with Christian obedience those things which the sacred pastors, inasmuch as they represent Christ, declare as teachers of the faith or establish as rulers of the Church.

§2. The Christian faithful are free to make known to the pastors of the Church their needs, especially spiritual ones, and their desires.

§3. According to the knowledge, competence, and prestige which they possess, they have the right and even at times the duty to manifest to the sacred pastors their opinion on matters which pertain to the good of the Church and to make their opinion known to the rest of the Christian faithful, without prejudice to the integrity of faith and morals, with reverence toward their pastors, and attentive to common advantage and the dignity of persons.”

Canon No. 212 specifically authorizes and empowers the faithful to voice their opinions on matters related to the Church and to even be critical of the Church leadership.  That criticism must be respectful of the Church leadership.  I wrote “Where Is The Synod on Synodality Going With LGBTQ+ Issues?” in accordance with Canon No. 212.  

As I stated in that article, the LGBTQ+ agenda is gaining strength within our Church and threatens to change or abolish teachings on the morality of homosexual behavior which pre-date the Church herself.  These are teachings that were handed down by God to the Jewish people and which our Church has subsequently inherited from our Jewish brethren.  See the Book of Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13. 

It is in accordance with Canon No. 212 that I raise some of my other concerns about our Church and the direction that we are heading.  The corrupting influences of LGBTQ+ ideology are deeply concerning to me but it is not my only concern.  I am also concerned about the Church’s past handling of clergy sexual abuse claims, Pope Francis’s prioritization of climate change over more important issues, the Vatican’s acquiescence to the ongoing persecution of Chinese Catholics, Uygurs and other religious minorities by Communist China, and the German bishops’ attempts to radically change Church teachings on social issues and Church governance. 

The Church is in need of serious purification.  Some of its senior leaders are in urgent need of guidance from the Holy Spirit, lest they fall into heresy and schism.  I pray that their hearts may be open to the Holy Spirit’s guidance and direction and wisdom, and that they may act accordingly. 

As Canon No.212 tells that the faithful have the right and even duty to voice their concerns about the Church.  Right now, there are a number of concerns which we should be making to known to our Church leaders and our fellow Catholics.  Unfortunately, I am doubtful that the Synod on Synodality will be the suitable means for us to do so.