Addressing the Synod Asse-mbly on October 21, Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernandez, ex-plained that his absence at a meeting of Synod delegates last week on the topic of female diaconate was due to a medical procedure undergone by a co-lleague responsible for coordi-nating the group. His absence had raised questions in some of the press that suggested it showed a lack of interest in the topic. The Cardinal addressed the issue as part of a broader communica-tion and apologized for what he called a “misunderstanding.”
According to Cardinal Fer-nandez, Pope Francis has expre-ssed that “at this moment the question of the female diaconate is not ripe”. “The commission studying the topic has reached partial conclusions, which will be made public at the appropriate time he explained, adding that the commission, chaired by Card-inal Giuseppe Petrocchi, will continue its work and those who wish to submit proposals or re-flections on the topic are en-couraged to do so.
While the question of female deacons remains unresolved, Cardinal Fernandez stressed that the Pope is deeply concerned about enhancing the role of women in the Church.
The Holy Father, he said, has asked the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith to explore ways to elevate women’s leader-ship within the Church without focusing exclusively on the Sacrament of Ordination.
Cardinal Fernandez argued that focusing solely on the female diaconate would not address the broader issue affecting millions of women in the Church. He pointed out that several steps toward increasing women’s roles could already be implemented, and the Church has not fully embraced them.
Gustavo Gutiérrez, ‘father of liberation theology,’ dies at 96
Gustavo Gutiérrez Merino, the Peruvian Dominican priest considered the “father” of liberation theology, died Oct. 22 at the age of 96.
The Dominican Province of St. John the Baptist of Peru announced the death of Gutiérrez, noting he was the author of the influential 1971 book “A Theology of Liberation: History, Politics, and Salvation.”
The theology of liberation is a school of thought that explored dimensions of liberation from the standpoint of Catholic social teaching. In some of its radical expressions, in particular in Latin America, liberation theology embraced many elements of Marxist theory and advocated for social change through various forms of revolution. At times, it also cast Christ as a form of revolutionary figure. Its more orthodox expressions emphasized a closeness with the poor and the suffering and called for authentic liberation in Christ.
Born on June 8, 1928, Gutiérrez was ordained a priest in 1959 and joined the Dominican order in 2001. He studied medicine and literature at the National University of San Marcos while participating in Catholic Action. He later studied theology at the University of Louvain in Belgium and the Institut Catholique of Lyon in France. Gutiérrez served as the John Cardinal O’Hara Endowed professor of theology at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana. His books have been translated into multiple languages.
One of Gutiérrez’s last international appearances was in Rome in October 2019 at a congress held at the Jesuit General Curia. There, at the invitation of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America (CAL), he delivered a lecture on “The Preferential Option for the Poor.”
Pope Francis Ratifies Synod on Synodality’s Final Document, Marking New Approach to Church Reform
In a surprising move at the conclusion of the Synod on Syno-dality on Saturday evening, Pope Francis ratified the final report, approved its immediate publica-tion, and said he will not publish a separate postsynodal document.
The Pope is permitted in canon law to ratify the final document of a Synod of Bishops, giving more power to the assem-bly’s “guidelines” something that has never been done before.
“I want, in this way, to re-cognize the value of the comple-ted synodal journey, which throu-gh this document I hand over to the holy faithful people of God,” the Pope said in a livestreamed address to synod participants in the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall on Oct. 26. “That is why I do not intend to publish an apostolic exhortation; what we have appr-oved is enough,” he said. “There are already very concrete indi-cations in the document that can be a guide for the mission of the Churches, on the different conti-nents, in the different contexts: that is why I am making it immediately available to every-one, that is why I said it should be published.”
In 2018, Pope Francis decre-ed in the apostolic constitution Episcopalis Communiothat re-formed the Synod of Bishops that the pope has the authority to approve and promulgate the final document, at which time it parti-cipates “in the ordinary magiste-rium.” The authority is also stipulated in Canon 343 of the Code of Canon Law. ”
What Pope Francis said after approving the document is in compliance with what is provided by Episcopalis Communio,” Fr Riccardo Battocchio, the synod’s special secretary, affirmed at a press conference presenting the final document Oct. 26.
Synodality: A conversion aimed at becoming more missionary
The Final Document, adopted on October 26 after each of its 155 paragraphs were approved, has been published, and will not become the basis of an Exhortation by the Pope, who has decided that it should be released immediately in order to inspire the life of the Church.
“The synodal process does not conclude with the end of the current Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, but it also includes the implementation phase” (9), involving all in the “daily journey with a synodal methodology of consultation and discernment, identifying concrete ways and formation pathways to bring about a tangible synodal conversion in the various ecclesial contexts” (9).
In particular, the Document challenges Bishops on their commitment to transparency and accountability, while noting, with Cardinal Victor Fernandez, the Prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, that work continues to provide women greater roles and greater power within the Church.
Two key words that emerge from the text permeated by the perspective and proposal of conversion are “relationships”, a way of being Church; and “bonds”, marked by the “exchange of gifts” between the Churches lived dynamically and, therefore, converting processes. It is precisely the local Churches that are at the centre in the missionary horizon, which is the foundation of the experience of plurality of synodality, with all the structures at the service of mission, with the laity increasingly fulfilling their role as subjects, or protagonists, of the process.
In this perspective, the Final Document emphasizes the concrete reality of being rooted in a “place”. Notably, the Synod Fathers and Mothers propose that the Dicasteries of the Holy See initiate substantive consultations “before publishing important normative documents” (135).
Indian police hunt for Hindu man who allegedly disrespected St. Francis Xavier
Police in the Indian state of Goa are on the hunt for a Hindu man who allegedly publicly disrespected St. Francis Xavier and disputed the saint’s title as protector of the state, leading to complaints from the state’s Christians, who deeply venerate St. Francis.
Catholic news outlet UCA News reported that Subhash Velingkar, a former state-unit chief of the powerful Hindu group Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, publicly questioned the auth-enticity of the relics of St. Francis Xavier housed in the Basilica of Bom Jesus in Old Goa. The relics are only exposed for veneration every 10 years. The next period of exposition and veneration is due to start on Nov. 21 and end on Jan. 5, 2025.
Indian bishops launch portal to support nation’s immigrants
India’s bishops recently launched a digital tool to help support the country’s hundreds of millions of migrants, hoping to address what one bishop calls the “serious concern” of migrant well-being.
The digital portal was launched on Sept. 27 in Bangalore by the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI) ahead of the Vatican’s 110th World Day of Migrants and Refugees on Sept. 29.
Indian tycoon Adani takes over school from Catholic nuns
India’s leading industrialist, Gautam Adani, has taken over a well-known high school in western Maha-rashtra state that Carmelite nuns ran for over five decades. Adani Founda-tion, the charity arm of the billionaire with business interests from apples to aviation, took over the management of Mount Carmel Convent Senior Secondary School in Cement Nagar in Chandrapur district from the Congregation of the Mother of Carmel (CMC) in September, a CMC nun told on October 1. Since 1972, the CMC nuns have managed the school, owned by India’s leading cement maker, Associated Cement Company (ACC), which Adani Group acquired from Switzerland-based Holcim in 2022. The ACC built the school with its funds for Corporate Social Respon-sibility and entrusted the management to the nuns.
Vatican Appoints Indian Youth to International Advisory Body
The Vatican has appointed Dr. Freya Francis (27), from Coimbatore, India, to the International Youth Advisory Body (IYAB). This appointment, announced on September 25, 2024, by the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life, represents a signi-ficant move in the Church’s efforts to embrace diverse global perspectives. Dr. Freya belongs to the Jesus Youth Move-ment will represent India during her three-year term. A graduate in homeopathy, Dr. Freya is currently a unit doctor in a private hospital in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. Raised in a devout Catholic family, her faith journey was shaped by her invol-vement with the Jesus Youth Movement. Starting with her campus prayer group, she steadily rose to leadership roles, honing her skills in working with diverse commu-nities and developing her compassionate approach to ministry. Today, she serves as the regional assistant coordinator for Tamil Nadu. Apart from her ministry work, Dr. Freya is also a passionate freestyle dancer, guitarist, and avid reader. She has been a member of her campus choir and enjoys playing table tennis in her leisure time. “She has a deep commit-ment to Catholic teachings and continu-ously strives to expand her knowledge. Her pro-life stance is admirable, and she is a strong advocate for the sanctity of human life. She has also contributed acti-vely to the Unbound healing ministry,” said Fr. Vignan Das, Associate Director of Communio and a fellow member of the Jesus Youth Movement. The IYAB, esta-blished by the Dicastery, includes 20 young people from various regions and faith backgrounds. They will focus on youth ministry and other pressing issues within the Church. Dr. Freya’s role will help strengthen the dialogue between the Church and its youth worldwide. This appointment highlights the Vatican’s commitment to youth engagement in ecclesiastical matters and recognizes the growing significance of Indian voices in global Catholic discussions. As the Church adapts to modern challenges, young advi-sors like Dr. Freya represent a forward-thinking approach to leadership and community involvement.
The Church in India congratulates Dr. Freya and wishes her continued success.
Supreme Court bars controversial remarks on religious conversions
The Supreme Court has barred remarks made by the Allahabad High Court regard-ing religious conversions and their impact on the country’s demographics, deeming them inappropriate. The apex court’s September 27 decision came as it granted bail to Kailash, a Christian from Hamirpur in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. The case dates back to December 2023 when Kaila-sh invited a group of about 20 people to a prayer meeting. Among them was Ramkali and her brother, who was strugg-ling with mental health challenges. Following the gather-ing, Ramkali’s brother went missing. While Kailash expre-ssed concern and searched for him, Ramkali remained un-fazed, explaining that her brother often wandered off and returned after a few days. By May 2023, when the brother had still not returned, religious extremists in the village pre-ssured Ramkali to file a com-plaint against Kailash, accusing him of her brother’s disappear-ance. The police had initially found no basis for the allega-tions and released Kailash, but they arrested him on May 21, 2023, under the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Conversion Act, allegedly under pressure from the radical groups. Kailash was accused of forcibly converting the atten-dees of the prayer meeting. In July, Kailash’s lawyers filed for Kailash’s bail, but the Allahabad High Court rejected the plea, citing concerns over rising religious conversions. Justice Rohit Ranjan Agarwal warned that “…if this process is allowed to continue, the majority population of this country would one day become a minority.” In a subsequent hearing on September 27, the Supreme Court granted bail to Kailash. It held that the general observations made by the High Court had no bearing on the facts of the present case and were, therefore, not required for the disposal of the case. The apex court also added that these remarks should not be cited in any future cases or proceedings in the High Court or any other court.
Indian Church urges state govt to allay people’s ‘eviction fears’
Church leaders have urged the communist-led government in a southern Indian state to clear doubts over the likely evi-ction of people, most of them Christians, in the eco-sensi-tive Western Ghats mountain range. The Kerala government did not take into consideration people’s concerns about the proposed declaration of areas within a kilometre of protected forest areas as eco-sensitive zones (ESZs) in the hilly and forested areas of Idukki and Wayanad districts, they said. Many Catholic dioceses and parishes are located in these districts, which are part of the Western Ghats. Nearly 3 milli-on people, mainly Christians, living in 121 villages fear they may be evicted if they end up being marked as ESZs. ”We are confused and the people are confused. Unless we pre-sent a correct picture, our villa-ges with human habitation will be declared ecologically sensi-tive areas and people will su-ffer,” said Fr Jins Karakkat, director of the media commi-ssion at the Idukki Diocese of the Eastern Rite Syro-Malabar Church. Church leaders alleg-ed that the government did not involve the public in identifying the ESZs as directed by the federal forest ministry in its official notification. Karakkat hinted at launching a public agitation if the government continued to be evasive and did not respond to the people’s concerns. “The government has not yet responded to the demand of the Church,” he told.
More than 50% (approx 20,000 sq km) of the total land area of Kerala, which is India’s most densely populated state, falls in the Western Ghats. The mountain range has witnessed ecological damage and erosion due to increasing human acti-vity over the past few decades.
An expert committee appointed by the Kerala go-vernment had recommended limiting the ESZs to 9,993.7 square kilometres, which included 9,107 sq. km of forest and 886.7 sq. km of non-forest areas.
In recent years, heavy rainfalls and landslides have caused the loss of human life and property in the districts of Idukki and Wayanad.
India’s Supreme Court in its order on June 3, 2022, declared all areas within a kilometre of protected forest areas as ESZs and forbade construction of new permanent structures within them. This left the people living in those areas for generations with no other option but to face eviction from the ecologically sensitive zones.
The federal forest ministry has accepted the suggestion of the expert committee. According to media reports, Kerala is planning to reduce the extent of the ESZs further and may submit a new draft proposal to the federal forest ministry after it sought its suggestions and objection to the proposed ESZs within 60 days through a July 31 notification.