✝️ The Big Synod Starts Soon: It’s The ‘Catholic Equivalent Of The Super Bowl’ 🔌

September 29, 2023 Bobby Ross Jr.

Weekend Plug-in 🔌

Editor’s note: Every Friday, “Weekend Plug-in” features analysis, fact checking and top headlines from the world of faith. Subscribe now to get this newsletter delivered straight to your inbox. Got feedback or ideas? Email Bobby Ross Jr. at therossnews@gmail.com.

(ANALYSIS) Good morning, Weekend Plug-in readers!

We are following tragic news out of Pakistan: Dozens are dead after a suicide bombing in a crowd of people celebrating the birthday of Islam’s prophet, The Associated Press’ Abdul Sattar reports.

Meanwhile, Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California — the longest serving woman senator — has died at 90. An obituary by the Washington Post’s Emily Langer recounts that Feinstein “attended an elite Catholic high school where she was the only Jewish student.”

This is our weekly roundup of the top headlines and best reads in the world of faith. We start by previewing a major summit of the Catholic Church.

What To Know: The Big Story

‘Truly important’: “This is the biggest thing happening in the Catholic Church since Vatican II, there is no question about that,” a scholar tells The Tablet’s Carol Zimmerman.

Crux’s John L. Allen Jr. characterizes the upcoming Synod of Bishops on Synodality as “this fall’s Catholic equivalent of the Super Bowl.”

“The unprecedented gathering of 464 Catholic clergy and laypeople, including women, begins Oct. 4 at the Vatican,” Religion News Service’s Claire Giangravé reports.

More from RNS:

While some might dismiss the highly anticipated event as a meeting on meetings, the term synodality under Pope Francis has expanded to reflect his vision for dialogue and decision-making in the church.

“I am well aware that speaking of a ‘Synod on Synodality’ may seem something abstruse, self-referential, excessively technical, and of little interest to the general public,” Francis said to journalists at the Vatican on Aug. 26.

he summit will bring 464 Catholic clergy and laypeople, including women, to the Vatican to discuss hot-button issues ranging from sexual abuse to LGBTQ inclusion and female ordination.

“It is something truly important for the church,” the pope said.

Divided American clerics: Ideological rifts among U.S. bishops are in the spotlight ahead of the Vatican meeting, according to The Associated Press’ David Crary:

If there’s Exhibit A for how elusive consensus might be, it’s the United States’ participation. In effect, there are two high-level U.S. delegations widely viewed as ideological rivals — six clerics appointed by Pope Francis who support his aspirations for a more inclusive, welcoming church; five clerics chosen by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops who reflect a more conservative outlook and more skepticism of Francis’ priorities.

Natalia Imperatori-Lee, a professor of religious studies at Manhattan College in New York, worries that the synod, which starts Oct. 4, might widen rifts among U.S. Catholics rather than narrow them.

“The polarization of the country has infiltrated the church in such a way that I worry we can’t see our way out of it,” she said.

“The synod is supposed to be about listening, and humility, and willingness to change, but that’s not what clergy are trained to do,” she added. “There’s this unwillingness among much of the clergy to be taught anything, and that’s going to be a real problem.”

For his part, the pope “seems intent on taking the rifts in stride,” AP notes.

The next pope: Given that Francis is 86 years old, who is in line to succeed him?

Ahead of the synod, RNS’ Giangravé and Jack Jenkins look toward the future:

As many cardinals filter into Rome over the next days and weeks for the Synod on Synodality, the question of the next pope will no doubt be discussed in the formal and informal small groups of Spanish, French, Italian and English speakers from around the globe. Those from the church’s peripheries will have the chance to get acquainted with their Western counterparts, talk about their concerns and form alliances, cementing their hopes and bets on who will lead them next — or unsettling the picture once again.

A central figure: Finally, check out this profile Cardinal Mario Grech by the National Catholic Reporter’s Christopher White.

White explains Grech’s significance:

Now, as some 464 Catholic bishops, religious and lay representatives descend upon Rome next week for the first session of the synod (it has been extended to two parts, set to conclude in October 2024) for a process that will bring together some of the pope's top allies and some of his sharpest critics in the same room, all eyes are on the man in the center of the synodal storm — Cardinal Mario Grech — who Francis has tapped to help him navigate turbulent waters.

Stay tuned for more coverage in the weeks ahead.

Power Up: The Week’s Best Reads

1. Muslim political shift: “Waving American flags, they have chanted against ‘indoctrination’ of children. They’ve sued to pull their kids from lessons and argued their case on Fox News.

“In battles against LGBTQ+ acceptance, it is often white evangelicals pushing for book bans or boycotts over beer brands or bathing suits. In this case, Muslims are leading the fight.”

The Los Angeles Times’ Jaweed Kaleem puts the battle in a Maryland school district into context.

2. Post-pandemic faith: What happened to the church members who never came back?

“New research shows disagreement over COVID-19 policies drove changes in attendance, but ‘a lot of it is a mystery,’” this Christianity Today story by Hannah McClellan explains.

3. Buying up a town: A “mysterious church” is buying up a small town in Alabama, AL.com’s Hannah Denham and Sarah Whites-Koditschek report:

And as the church gobbles up homes, commercial buildings and vacant lots, more new people are arriving, joining the church, and getting noticed in a town of just 3,200.

“What happens when all of downtown Warrior belongs to Church International?” said Jaqui Cloutier, who owns the tattoo shop on Main Street. “Like, what is it about Warrior, Alabama, that drew you here?”

Note: Since I first noticed this story — which remains fascinating — a major correction has been appended.

Inside The Godbeat

Lev Golinkin, a contributor to The Forward, “is always looking for Nazis. He’s been pretty busy lately.”

So writes Benyamin Cohen in introducing that Jewish news organization’s readers to Golinkin:

Lev, who has over the past three years documented more than 1,600 monuments to Nazis and their collaborators in 30 countries, on Sunday was the first journalist to report that the 98-year-old World War II veteran given a standing ovation in Canada’s Parliament had actually fought with a Nazi unit. The story was picked up by news outlets around the world and had quick repercussions: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau apologized and the speaker of Canada’s House of Commons, who’d engineered the ovation, resigned Tuesday amid the spiraling scandal.

Read Golinkin’s stories.

Charging Station: ICYMI

Here is where you can catch up on recent news and opinions from ReligionUnplugged.com.

A Christian group that has called the seaside town of Ocean Grove in New Jersey home for over 150 years is in a battle with state officials and a local group over beach access on Sundays.

ReligionUnplugged.com’s Clemente Lisi delves into the fight.

The Final Plug

During a recent reporting trip to New York, I visited a Manhattan church that meets in a hostel where tourists from around the world stay while visiting that city of 8.5 million.

Here’s a shameless plug for my “Upper West Side Story.”

Happy Friday, everyone! Enjoy the weekend.

Bobby Ross Jr. writes the Weekend Plug-in column for ReligionUnplugged.com and serves as editor-in-chief of The Christian Chronicle. A former religion writer for The Associated Press and The Oklahoman, Ross has reported from all 50 states and 18 nations. He has covered religion since 1999.

Religion Unplugged