Vatican III?

Hopefully the current synod of the catholic Church will eventually result in a Vatican III which is sorely needed in my view. After all Vatican II took place in the first half of the 1960s, when people who are now in their 70s, were teenagers.

A Sacred Heart Wimbledon comment on the  synod reads:

As you may be aware, Pope Francis has asked the whole Catholic Church to engage in a process of discernment under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. This process is called a synod. The synodal process we are undertaking is guided by a fundamental question: How does ‘journeying together’ take place today on different levels (from the local level to the universal one), allowing the Church to proclaim the Gospel? And, what steps is the Spirit inviting us to take in order to grow as a ‘synodal Church?’ In our Archdiocese, Archbishop John is inviting everyone to respond to the invitation of Pope Francis and take part in the initial diocesan ‘listening’ phase of the Synod. Each local parish is encouraged to gather together, pray, study the scriptures, and work through some questions about the mission of the Church in the local area. Every member of the Church - clergy, religious, and lay Catholics – is invited to participate in the ‘listening phase’ according to the gifts and charisms of their vocation. As we listen attentively to what the Holy Spirit is saying, we learn how to respond to where He is leading us in this mission. We are delighted to be nominated as your delegates, to help steer this process of discernment and discussion. We will keep you informed about the next steps in the coming week.

Three of us parishioners decided to meet at a home of one. The two visiting his home had to walk past Wimbledon Common to arrive there. Outside his house the portents were slightly negative, at least weather-wise:

In the event the meeting between us was excellent although with so many different aspects  of the parish, the Church, families, Covid-19 and our own lives being discussed, it became apparent that debates about so important a matter are best limited to small groups of perhaps no larger than three people.

My own contribution was quite limited though I did and do consider that worker priests which were founded in France after WWII but which were later frowned upon by Rome as they became regarded as too left wing, should be considered again. We also believed that married clergy should be expanded beyond the Anglican clergy who have joined the Catholic Church and that  ordaining women priests should be looked at again. There is no theological reason against women priests that I know of.

During our meeting over coffee we also read  the recent interesting Daily Telegraph  article about Pope Francis, the heading of which reads:

The Papal Paradox: is the woke Pope alienating his flock?

The 84 year-old pontiff may be popular with many younger Catholics, but he is a divisive figure within the Church he leads

ByMelanie McDonagh20 October 2021 • 5:00am

An interesting section of The Telegraph article continues:

He is popular with many younger Catholics. In a survey last year by Stephen Bullivant and Ben Clements, 55 per cent of young Catholics in Britain (especially mass-goers) thought he was a change for the better for the papacy. My daughter, 14, says that her age cohort likes him. “He’s liberal, “she says. “And he interacts with you.”

But while he can reach parts few other modern Popes reach, he is still a divisive figure within the Church, of which he is head.

Not to put too fine a point upon it, lots of Catholics can’t stand him – liberals, as well as Conservatives.

Strange as I agree with the young Catholics. Perhaps a huge shake up of the Church is required especially Holy Mass the form of which has hardly changed since the 1960s when the style of mass was altered  by thenceforth being celebrated by the priest facing the people and the vernacular generally replacing Latin. My own view is that the form of the mass (Canon apart) should  now be altered to ensure it is more appealing to more mass goers especially the young. 

Shortening the mass  would perhaps also assist in bring it into line more with  C21 life - again my personal view of course.