Vatican City, Jul 29, 2024 / 11:18 am (CNA).
The Vatican was criticized by online commentators over the weekend for swiftly deleting an online poll that reflected poorly on the Synod on Synodality.
Originally posted on Friday to the social media account of the office facilitating the synod, the poll asked: “Do you believe that synodality as a path of conversion and reform can enhance the mission and participation of all the baptized?”
Respondents could only answer “yes” or “no,” and 88% responded in the negative.
The low levels of support for synodality, a novel theological concept that means journeying together, come as a multiyear, global consultative process focusing on the topic draws to a close, with a final gathering set for the Vatican City this October.
The poll garnered approximately 136,000 views on the official X account of the Secretariat of the Synod. Approximately 7,000 people submitted their vote within the 24 hours the poll was live on that channel. An additional 780 people cast their vote on Facebook before polling was closed.
On Saturday both X and Facebook posts that displayed the final results — as well as accompanying comments of social media users — were deleted from the official accounts of the synod office.
However, some users were able to screenshot an image of the poll results before the synod office removed it. Catholics on social media criticized the removal of the unflattering results, a move that many described as hypocritical.
“The Synod_va Church wants to hear from you. Until and unless you tell them something they don’t want to hear. #synodality,” Amanda (@TheMrsFarnum) wrote on X.
Another X user, Matthew Hazell (@MPHazell), an English Catholic working on projects that compare tradition and reformed Roman rite liturgies, criticized the removal of the posts, writing: “Oh dear, the @Synod_va poll on #synodality was deleted! Doesn’t seem very #synodal…” and, in another separate post: “Perhaps the experts and the October 2024 #Synod participants will be forwarded the results.”
However, Catholic Faith Technologies Vice President Jonathan Lewis offered a different take on the online poll, arguing that the results said more about respondents than synodality.
“Based on the top comments and poll results, this post reiterates the reality of North American resistance to synodality compared with the global Church,” Lewis said on X.
The October synodal gathering in Rome will conclude the “discernment phase” of the Synodal Process 2021–2024. The first Vatican session was held in October 2023 and included 363 participants from around the world.
The Synod on Synodality states that the process is divided into three phases: the consultation of the people of God, the discernment of pastors, and the implementation of the synodal Church. It is the first synod in Church history where laypeople have voting rights.
Throughout his pontificate, Pope Francis has repeatedly called for a “listening Church” that encourages pastors and the faithful to walk and work together to create a Church that is open, welcoming, and missionary in its outlook.
Issues discussed in the previous session on synodality in October 2023 included the female diaconate and LGBTQ+ inclusion within the Catholic Church.
The second and final session will take place in October and close the discernment phase of the Synod on Synodality.
According to the Synod of Synodality website, the conclusions that will emerge from these two sessions, which are “accepted by the Roman Pontiff in the manner he judges most appropriate,” are then expected to be implemented in local Churches.
The General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops did not respond to CNA’s request for comment about the deleted online poll.
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Very revealing.
What a racket this whole thing has been from the start.
Lord, grant me patience but hurry.
I feel that if we all in the Catholic Church focus on Jesus Christ and His teachings we will better prepared to meet HIM in the end.
Synodity will pull our focus from HIM and focus on politics of the church organization.
Just saying
Would we expect less from this Vatican?
We read today on X Cardinal Paglia’s attempt to provide positive spin to the Olympic sacrilege. We read today read today at another Catholic website unwilling to publish my comment “…synodality, a novel theological concept…”
Just these two occurrences are indicative of serious ecclesial derangement.
Synodality is project to eviscerate Roman Catholicism of its core substance while retaining the brand, the perks and whatever is left of its cultural influence. Stroll back in time and see if any faithful bishop or layman anticipated this “development” in 1965. Only the closeted Marxists.
This project termed “synodality” is not a theological concept in actuality. It is a political movement masked in an Orthodox practice mutilated in order to provide some sort of apostolic cover to a boldly disingenuous enterprise.
The results of a deleted poll are an accurate snapshot of the “sensus fidelium” which required erasure if the project were to retain any credence. The actual “sensus fidelium” undermines the foundation of this masquerade. The stats reporting weekly Mass attendance and the absence of belief in the real presence of Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist are a poll, are the real “sensum fidei” which cannot be ignored or erased. A sizable portion, the majority of the baptized, don’t believe. Structural alternations in the administration of the Church are meaningless and impotent for the salvation of souls. The energy given to synodalism had best be diverted to actual accurate catechesis of youth and the evangelization of adults.
Synodalism is a disingenuous afront to the faithful, and above all to our Lord, Jesus Christ.
We read: “This project termed ‘synodality’ is not a theological concept in actuality. It is a political movement masked in an Orthodox practice mutilated in order to provide some sort of apostolic cover to a boldly disingenuous enterprise.”
Yes, rather than a concept like a real synod, instead cross-dressed as a “style.” As in corporate boardroom proceduralism–or the style–of just moving things along. With Marshall McLuhan, the “medium [process] IS the message [or concept].”
Peter – Who said: “This project termed ‘synodality’ is not a theological concept in actuality. It is a political movement masked in an Orthodox practice mutilated in order to provide some sort of apostolic cover to a boldly disingenuous enterprise.”
Thanks!
Right. I see it now, in James’ comment.
It is clearly the Freemasonic Entreprise to liquidate the Catholic Church, erecting a Superlodge in its place which can be subsumed into the system.
Right. Weinandy at The Catholic Thing sees sins against the Holy Spirit among the Paris Olympian revelers at the Herodian-style Last Supper masquerade. The lie and the farce of Synodality, as you say, does likewise affront the goodness of God. May he have mercy on us.
Pardon me, but I can’t help compare the Vatican Synod Office to Nazi Germany’s Ministry of Propaganda and Public Enlightenment. Unfortunately for the Synod Office truth can be troublesome. Folks aren’t enlightened.
But thanks to Catholic Faith Technologies, a Kansas based management resource for parishes the Synod has a scapegoat, the scurrilous bad boy US Catholic Church. Business is business and so we carry on. As expected the Synod recommendations will be going forward to be implemented in parishes.
God bless you Father for making a bold and necessary comparison. Strong language is needed to try and shake up someone at the Vatican. Among my prayers is that I wish someone, with the opportunity, would only read the riot act to Francis at a one on one meeting.
Edward, if you recall, Capuchin theologian Fr Thomas Weinandy wrote the equivalent of a riot act letter to Pope Francis that was ignored, and resulted in his dismissal from his position as theologian consultant to the USCCB. We may have reached the point when someone might personally determine to confront him as you say.
Catherine of Siena traveled to Avignon to personally convince Pope Gregory XI [born in France] to return the papacy to Rome [apparently he had made a personal vow to return the papacy to Rome that Catherine was aware of, and she reminded him]. She castigated him and questioned his manhood. She eventually succeeded in convincing him. A similarly impassioned woman [we men seem to defer more easily to women. With all due propriety I might add there are a couple of gals that write on this site that would qualify] might have more success than a cardinal or bishop. Although I personally doubt anyone will succeed in convincing Francis from changing his agenda.
This is almost, but not quite – funny.
Surprising? No.
The current Vatican crew proves once again that bad news is no news…all about marketing, spin and Francis ever since they butchered the Vatican danged good reference site and turned it into a marketing machine for Francis.
Perhaps someone with more knowledge would be able to answer my question–is the internet, specifically social media, something that people in Africa (outside of the big cities), Asia (especially China, which is Communist), the Middle East, and South America (outside of the big cities) have easy access to? It sounds like the supporters of synodality thought the survey sounded like “North America”–well, of course it does, since even toddlers in the U.S. have social media accounts and it makes sense that the majority of the surveys were filled out by Americans and other countries with a huge online presence by the people! But is the rest of the world as “online” as those of us in the U.S.? (Disclosure–other than online forums like this one, I am not involved with any social media.) I honestly do not know the answer to this question–for all I know, every African, even those living in a primitive setting, uses social media. Thank you to anyone who can answer my questioN!
Internet censorship in China (do this search)
our major adversaries do not have freedom of the press and unfortunately, we’re headed that way as well due to suppression
“Everyone, everyone, everyone.”
Except for 88.1 percent of the faithful.
Figures.
Every leftist is motivated by envisioning himself as possessing greater levels of “compassion” not only of others, but of the whole of prior history. Their conceit will not allow them to even contemplate that there is no compassion without suffering with the suffering, everyone among the suffering. Were they to do so, they might reexamine their pretenses.
Not surprised, in this age or”relative truth” even the Church resorts to selective truth. Not that polls should be used at all. The Church is NOT a democracy and should not be governed by majority assent.
James, you’re obviously not in favor of Synodolatry then, eh?
Contemptuous Vatican bureaucrats.
This year marks the 80th anniversary of Mises’ epic tome Bureaucracy.
From the introduction:
“The terms bureaucrat, bureaucratic, and bureaucracy are clearly invectives. Nobody calls himself a bureaucrat or his own methods of management bureaucratic. These words are always applied with an opprobrious connotation. They always imply a disparaging criticism of persons, institutions, or procedures. Nobody doubts that bureaucracy is thoroughly bad and that it should not exist in a perfect world.”
However, Catholic Faith Technologies Vice President Jonathan Lewis offered a different take on the online poll, arguing that the results said more about respondents than synodality.
“Based on the top comments and poll results, this post reiterates the reality of North American resistance to synodality compared with the global Church,” Lewis said on X.
It’s always great to hear from one of my superiors.
Do share any data you have on synodality’s popularity around the world, Mr. Lewis.
It sounds like they can’t handle the truth.
What is astounding is that 12% actually buy into synodality. That’s 1 poor Catholic in ten who still have not understood the difference between Catholicism and Bergoglio’s Cancel-Culture.
The conversion of the faithful will always be based on clarifying our path to Jesus Chrit. It does not come by turning from Tradition or established doctrine. The SonS is not present an opportunity for greater holiness or faithfulness. It is something else.
Now the entire Church can get the message of the venomous disrespect that this pontificate has held for Catholics who are Catholic for eleven years.
Anti-Synodaling of the common man must be suppressed for sake of a Synodaling Church.
Synodal-ai-EEE-whooo!
Who?
Not me, say we Catholics in the pews.
I guess the proponents of a “Listening Church” only really mean listening to opinions that reinforce their predetermined biases.
In a way, an honest synod would be a good thing, a prelates only synod, as they’re meant to be. But it would have to be honest, non-cowards only. A synod of prelates united in telling Francis what damage he has done to Catholic witness, and it must stop!
Like Terrence said, I also laughed with the 88.1. % at the idiocy of synodality- but the error of grave sins in heterodoxy is too appalling.
For “Yodeler” Brineyman herein, thx for the “lol”:
“Don’t-know-who” a while ago on this CWR stream shared/coined the definition of “SIN-NOD”- but “it fits”!!
Apparently, the Pope doesn’t understand that like Hell, the internet is forever.
Somehow I don’t think that the comment section was mistakenly deleted.
How ANTI-synodal of them.
I first heard “SIN-NOD” from Raymond Arroyo on EWTN’s World Over Live, many years ago well before COVID-19.
It sure is proving a NOD in the direction of SIN.
Hey there it also proves EWTN is cutting edge and up to mark to Mother Angelica’s honour and the Church’s -against all the naysayers.
We had “synodalism” introduced in our Archdiocese late 1990’s and the lodge boys who got invited would say they had to go “sigh nod” and fulfill their duty.
Ride Posse!
‘ “They repeat very often that it’s a pastoral direction. And so they say, we want to avoid the confusion, though they said many things, which only made bigger confusion,” Cardinal Zen noted. ‘
https://www.ncregister.com/cna/cardinal-zen-discusses-his-new-book-for-lent-and-concerns-for-the-church
I am accused of not following the “Hermeneutics of continuity” when criticizing the “Fiducia supplicans”!?
https://oldyosef.hkdavc.com/?p=2043