Dear Friends

We are all acutely aware of the many challenges that confront the Catholic Church, not just in Australia, but across the globe; even in countries where 40 years ago it seemed to be immune to such problems.

Essentially the Church is much as it’s always been. Some of her external features may have changed, but largely it continues as it has for centuries. If the Church hasn’t changed, the ‘world’ certainly has. Australian society, among many, has been transformed irreversibly. In the past 50 years the rate and extent of change has been more pronounced than at any time in history. As Pope Francis has acutely observed, “we aren’t in an era of change, but more a change of era”.

In many ways the place the Church held in society has been replaced by other influences. The sense of community provided by Parish has been taken by the plethora of groups and activities on offer in contemporary society. There is so much choice available. The Church’s charity and outreach has broad competition. Think of the number of single interest support groups: white ribbon day, pink ribbon day, ecological activist groups, animal rights groups and so on. These attract attention and enormous support. Meaning is provided by a range of new wave spiritualities or fundamentalist groups, or even by a reliance on materialism and secularism.

In an alarming way, the sexual abuse crisis has highlighted the Church’s failures. In the public mind the Church and its leaders have been easily characterised as hypocritical; preaching one thing and doing the opposite, and out of touch.

With the Church’s reputation undermined and its societal position reduced, many of us can rightly feel under attack. We can look at the rapid societal changes and ‘blame’ them for our vulnerable position. We can be defensive and critical of the contemporary world and society.

Pope Francis urges us towards dialogue and a culture of encounter. He proposes synodality as a means of addressing and responding to our challenges. In Australia, the Plenary Council has been offered as a process of listening and acting together as a Church. It’s obvious we need to be open – not closed. We can’t retreat to a fortress mentality. We are being called to listen deeply and then respond – not react.

“The Church,” says Gaudium et Spes, “has always had the duty of scrutinizing the signs of the times and of interpreting them in the light of the Gospel…[It] labours to decipher authentic signs of God's presence and purpose in the happenings, needs and desires in which this People has a part along with other men of our age”. These words are crucial; we are instructed to deliberately work at discerning God speaking through secular events.

Leaving aside all the scientific, technological and economic changes, what are some of the significant changes that have taken place in Australian society and the western world?

The place of women has been irreversibly altered. They cannot and won’t be set aside as they were in the past. Violence against women is highlighted. The rights of First Nations people are recognised. We speak of ‘reconciliation’ and so much more. There is an emerging awareness of how to be inclusive and respectful of all people, and enhance the dignity of all, honouring the diversity in humanity. There have been increases to the rights of the LGBTQIA+ community. Sexuality is spoken about openly and sexual mores are vastly different. The rights of children are recognised. People insist on taking their own moral stand on significant issues. Social media is pervasive and has become the normal means of communication. There are so many other societal changes.

We are called to reflect deeply on these trends and the events unfolding before our eyes and to respond to them out of mature faith. Which of these are works of the Spirit? What are they saying to the Church? Can we pretend they haven’t occurred, or fight against them? Can the Church live in its own bubble?

As Gaudium et Spes tells us, our way to evaluate them is in light of the Gospel. We know the Church needs renewal. That’s what Synodality and our own Plenary Council are about. Renewal starts with a return to the source and summit of our faith – Jesus and his Gospel. We need to return to our original inspiration. This may be a dangerous and disturbing process. If we do that and strip away the accretion of years and reveal the Gospel message in all its freshness and authenticity, we might confront some very challenging realities. We could find that we’ve moved away from Jesus and his message.

Maybe contemporary society has something to teach the Church. The only way we will determine this is to enter into an encounter with it; not with fear and defensiveness, but with openness and a reliance on the Gospel as our guide.

What are the ‘signs of the times’ telling us about God’s desire for our world today?

Peter

Br Peter Carroll FMS,

President, Catholic Religious Australia.