The diocese holds a second round of listening sessions in March to collect more input for the final phase
The East Tennessee Catholic
The Diocese of Knoxville on April 5 submitted results from a second round of listening sessions in the diocese for the Synod on Synodality, which is being led by Pope Francis.
Pope Francis convened the universal Church phase of the Synod on Synodality last October in Rome, and afterward he asked dioceses to conduct another round of listening sessions to collect more input for the final Synod phase this October.
Pope Francis’ aim in the Synod is to involve the entire Catholic Church at the diocesan, national, and continental levels through a process of “listening and discernment” on the important theme of synodality: “For a synodal Church: communion, participation, and mission.”
This synodal process began in the Diocese of Knoxville in October 2021. The official diocesan report was submitted to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in spring 2022. The 10-page report is a synthesis of the months-long Synod process utilizing an online survey and listening sessions held at parishes, schools, and ministries around the diocese from December 2021 until March 2022.
In January, dioceses were asked to hold another series of meetings to discuss the topics in the Synthesis Report and submit a summary to the General Secretariat of the Synod. Listening sessions were held in person and online in the Diocese of Knoxville in March.
The full report from the 2024 interim stage of listening sessions is available on the Diocese of Knoxville website Synod page, dioknox.org/synod-2023.
The National Synthesis of the People of God in the United States of America for the Interim Stage of the 2021-24 Synod report can be found at www.usccb.org/resources/national-synthesis-people-god-united-states-america-interim-stage-2021-2024-synod.
In February, the diocese assembled members of its Synod Team of 2021 to help guide the new step to “continue the journey initiated by the Holy Father.” That journey began on Oct. 9, 2021.
Following the request by the USCCB to conduct additional U.S. listening sessions related to the contents of the Synthesis Report issued by the 16th Ordinary General Assembly of Bishops in Rome from Oct. 4-29, 2023, the Diocese of Knoxville listening sessions were held in two meetings, on March 16 and March 19.
Deacon Sean Smith, chancellor of the Diocese of Knoxville, Deacon Al Forsythe, and Jim Wogan, diocesan communications director, were appointed as co-leaders of the new listening sessions. Participating Synod Team members included laity, religious, and a pastor.
“In the spirit of authentic synodality but taking into consideration the vast area of the Diocese of Knoxville, which includes many rural counties in East Tennessee, it was decided that in-person dialogue sessions would be held at a central location—the Chancery in Knoxville—and would also be available for online participation,” the diocesan co-leaders reported.
And while it was also understood that these sessions were not “repeating the process of listening and consultation undertaken during the first stage,” it was decided that the diocese would again invite participation in an online survey, this time using the “guiding questions” presented in the organizing documents the diocese received for this session.
According to the co-leaders, despite advance notice of the session dates on all diocesan electronic platforms, including a weekly newsletter, the diocesan website, social media, and parish bulletins, participation was much lower than anticipated.
Unlike the townhall-style meetings conducted by the diocese and its parishes and ministries during the listening sessions of 2022, the in-person and online dialogue sessions in March were held in small groups. Abiding by the closing letter in the 2023 Vatican Synthesis Report, which compared this effort to a “small seed” that will grow and mature for many, the dialogue session participants seemed to embrace the “Conversation in the Spirit” that has been written about.
Those attending were from parishes in the diocese’s major population centers—Chattanooga, Tri-Cities, and Knoxville. Participation also included people from rural parishes in Rogersville, Maynardville, Dunlap, Athens, Fairfield Glade, and Mountain City. They were laity, religious, clergy, and people of different age groups—young adults and older parishioners.
According to the co-leaders, “views were voiced in a thoughtful and civil manner. Those who participated were considerate and articulate, had a deep understanding of our shared faith, cared about the Church, were respectful, and were not afraid to share their beliefs and concerns.”
The Diocese of Knoxville’s Office of Hispanic Ministry participated and helped translate for Spanish-speaking participants.
“In that regard, we believe the diocese fulfilled the Holy Father’s goal of inviting different voices,” the co-leaders stated.
Many participants agreed that the concept of synodality is good, and that more discussion, especially at the diocesan and parish level, is needed.
“We need more connection to our neighboring parishes; cooperation; collegiality, synodality,” one group stated, while another said, “There is a need for open communication up and down the organization to allow all members of the Church to be better prepared to respond to issues in the secular media that impact the practice of the faith…”
However, not all participants agreed.
“I have not seen anything positive come out of this Synod,” said one response. Another said, “The Synod is false on its face…it is not a true Synod if it includes laity.” Another participant indicated that “collaboration” or “co-responsibility” as stated in Synod documents could be more effective at the parish level if there were true collaboration between clergy and laity.
Participants voiced concern over the lack of clarity and the need for better communication at all levels of the Catholic Church.
“No changes in doctrine; this message must be delivered loud and clear,” one group report stated. “The message of the Church needs to be clearer, more assertive, particularly on issues of doctrine.”
Another participant stated, “Clearer communication from overhead.”
Concerns related to spirituality and foundational issues resonated during the small-group discussions, and differing views were shared.
“The Church needs to bring back the reverence once felt in the Church of the past,” said one participant. “I am in my 60s and prefer the more solemn experience, but we aren’t attracting younger families” another stated, adding that “we alienate those members who have been through a divorce and have legally remarried by no longer allowing them to fully participate in the Mass…do away with lengthy annulment procedures….”
Another participant said, “Concentrate on the spiritual aspects of the Church’s and its peoples’ lives. Remember, teach and preach Christ’s message.”
One respondent cited the writings of St. John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI as positive influences that support the mission of the Church. “Stop trying to accommodate and subordinate our faith to today’s atheistic, secular, humanist culture, and stop trying to redefine the structure and mission that Christ gave to the Church.”
One respondent voiced concern that reverting to a “pre-Vatican II insular Catholic Church is almost like trying to get back to something that was there before, and it doesn’t fit well in today’s world….”
The role of the laity, especially the role of women, received much attention.
“Sometimes as a woman, you feel valued, and other times you are mostly seen only as a volunteer…or perceived as a threat to the pastor’s authority,” said one person. Another said, “The longsuffering of faithful lay Catholics who feel used and abused by priests and diocesan officials is real.” Another group wondered why there is “such hostile resistance to the conversation” of roles within the Church, including the role of women, and asked, “How can we become a more welcoming, reconciling Church?”
Additional comments and feedback:
- “Catholic schools are a vital part of the mission of the Church,” said one group. Another stated that “More extensive and dynamic catechetical models are needed to reach today’s adult Catholics.” One person believes that “Catholic education is becoming more secular.”
- “The diaconate program is a success to celebrate….”
- “Institutional attitudes need to change so that the people in the pew(s) are not treated simply as moneymakers and donors.”
- “It is painfully obvious that many parishioners don’t know why they are Catholic.”
- “Are we losing our Catholic identity? (We) need to strengthen our messages to young people, no moral relativism.”
- Success can be found “in those churches, those people who understand the presence of Jesus in the Eucharist and spend time with Him in adoration and participating in the sacraments.”
The abuse crisis continues to be discussed as a moral failure leading to mistrust of Church leadership. And comments on welcoming those whose lifestyles do not conform to Catholic teaching, including the LGBTQ+ community, included:
- “That’s an issue between that person and God…. (It’s) a very hard question that we are going to have to deal with,” said one participant. Others said that Pope Francis’ “ambiguity about (LGBTQ+) relations cause great confusion.” Another stated that the Church should “not in any way be recognizing same-sex unions.”
- Clarity on the celebration of the Latin-rite Mass was raised by one participant that wished dioceses would “more effectively accommodate the needs of the faithful rather than weaponize it.” Another stated, “Please stop persecuting those who attend the traditional Latin Mass. The many approved liturgies are good. Persecution is not very Christian, I think.”
“The Diocese of Knoxville and members of the dialogue sessions are grateful for the opportunity to participate in this stage of the Synod. While the report includes many topics and quotes, it should be considered as an overview of the consultations that took place on March 16 and 19, 2024, and includes online answers submitted through March 22, 2024. The diocese feels its effort in this regard abided by the Holy Father’s words that ‘the Synod is about synodality and not about this or that theme….’ The important thing is how the reflection is done, that is, in a synodal way,” the diocesan co-leaders said.
The second and final session of the 16th Ordinary General Assembly of Bishops, commonly referred to as the Synod on Synodality, will take place Oct. 2-27 in Rome.
