Doctrinal Deceptions

A faithful cardinal is slamming the Church hierarchy for confusing Catholics with so-called synodality.

Cardinal Gerhard Müller, the former head of the Vatican's doctrinal office, spoke out in a recent article about the modern use of synods by dissident theologians to try to change the Church's doctrine.

A synod is defined as "an assembly of ecclesiastics, not necessarily all bishops, gathered together under ecclesiastical authority to discuss and decide on matters pertaining to doctrine, discipline or liturgy under their jurisdiction."

But Müller is noting that synods — as they have been employed in the era of Pope Francis — have not been used to address modern moral problems. 

Instead, they're "peddling the new edition of the 1970s agenda," like abolishing priestly celibacy, the ordination of women to the priesthood, Holy Communion to non-Catholics and the acceptance of sexual unions outside of marriage. 

He specifically addresses German bishops with their own ongoing synod — called the synodal path — saying it's "claim[ing] the Holy Spirit for itself in order to suspend, correct and reinterpret the authority of Holy Scripture, the Apostolic Tradition and the infallible decisions of the Magisterium."

In March the Vatican announced a synod in October 2022 titled "For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation and Mission," to discuss synods.

It's being greeted with skepticism by faithful Catholics since last October's synod on the Amazon outraged faithful Catholics with pagan worship and discussion about a married priesthood and female deacons.

And Catholics feel the next synod will just be more of the same confusion.