February 16, 2024 / 07:43 PM
Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun, Bishop Emeritus of Hong Kong (China), has launched a new criticism of the Synod of Synodality, arguing that the ongoing process of debate and discernment offers “two opposing visions” of the nature, organization and the role of the Catholic Church.
“On the one hand, the Church is presented as founded by Jesus on the apostles and their successors, with a hierarchy of ordained ministers who guide the faithful on the path to the heavenly Jerusalem,” observes the 92-year-old cardinal, in a commentary of almost 3,600 words published on February 15 and titled “How will the Synod continue and how will it conclude?”.
“On the other hand, there is talk of an indefinite synodality, of a ‘democracy of the baptized,'” he continues, questioning: “What baptized people? Do they at least go to church regularly? Do they draw their faith from the Bible and its power of the sacraments?