Synodal crossroads – from vision to action

March 3, 2026

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After four years of listening, dialogue, and prayer, the time for talk has ended. It is now time for concrete initiatives.

The credibility gap

We have reached a crucial crossroads. Without tangible changes in the short term, the vision of a synodal Church will lose its credibility. While the current synodal process has been endorsed, we must now develop appropriate decision-making frameworks at every level.

Steps to a modern Church

We are Church International and have proposed concrete initiatives to our bishops to bridge the gap between vision and reality:

Inclusive Leadership: Qualified women and men preaching and leading parishes.
Lay-Led Liturgy: Empowering the laity to lead liturgies with communion.
Ecumenical Hospitality: Mutual attendance and Eucharistic hospitality with other Christian churches.
Power to the Pews: Majority voting on Parish and Diocesan Pastoral Councils, with minutes published online.
Ending the Secrecy: Mandating the annual publication of financial reports and Ad Limina reports.
Gender Equality: The ordination of women deacons.
Local Input: Diocesan Pastoral Councils recommending nominations for bishops.
Justice for Survivors: Professional guidance and fair financial support for victims of sexual abuse.
A Church for Everyone: Dedicated pastoral care for LGBTQ+ people in every parish.

Beyond listening

Some of these steps are already in motion. “Catholic Women Preach” has published weekly sermons for years, and lay-led liturgies are common in regions facing a shortage of celibate male clergy.

However, significant barriers remain. The Church still restricts communion for non-Catholics, and Pastoral Councils often remain strictly advisory, leaving the priest or bishop with a total veto.

Baptism not ordination

True reform requires that baptism—not ordination—becomes the primary requirement for all ministries. We must also move past the era of covering up clerical abuse and blaming victims.

God loves all of us, regardless of sexual orientation. It is time for the Church’s structures to reflect that universal love through transparency, accountability, and inclusion.