Catholic Action in Austria wants a plenary council to govern the Church in Austria

Church Reform: Catholic Action for Austrian Plenary Council

Appeal to the Bishops' Conference: Synodal Assembly of Bishops, Priests, and Laity would be an important signal of a common new beginning

It is a battle for power and money

The Catholic Action Austria (KAÖ) is calling on Austrian bishops to initiate a Plenary Council of the Catholic Church in Austria. A corresponding proposal has been sent to all members of the Austrian Bishops' Conference, which will meet for its spring plenary assembly from March 17 to 20, the KAÖ announced on Tuesday. A synodal assembly of bishops, priests, and lay Catholics would be an "important signal of a common new beginning for the Church in Austria," the press release stated.

While there are reform processes of varying degrees in individual dioceses, the synodal process initiated by Pope Francis at the universal Church level also opens up important new opportunities at the national level, KAÖ President Ferdinand Kaineder, Vice President Katharina Renner, and Vice President Thomas Immervoll expressed their conviction.

The final document of the Universal Assembly of the Churches in Rome, adopted on October 26, 2024, which the Pope has incorporated into his Magisterium without exception, explicitly recommends synodal assemblies at the regional or national level. If greater importance is given to these "intermediate spaces" between the local Church and the universal Church, "they can contribute to a more meaningful presence of the Church in today's world. Increasing mobility and today's interconnectedness make the boundaries between churches fluid and often require thinking and acting within a 'broad sociocultural space,'" the document states.

Such gatherings should also "include spaces for listening and dialogue with other Christians and representatives of other religions, public institutions, civil society organizations, and society as a whole."

Shared Responsibility and Accountability

As the KAÖ press release further states, an Austrian plenary council would also be an important step toward greater togetherness, shared responsibility, and mutual accountability: "Synodality means walking together, listening to each other and trusting each other, dialogue, and joint decision-making; and ultimately, decisions with a strong binding character are needed."

Once decisions have been made, transparency, accountability, and evaluation are needed in their implementation and practice, say the KAÖ officials, referring to the final document of the World Synod. They add in their press release: "We must establish paths and processes in the Church in Austria that create precisely this: shared decision-making and mutual accountability. Only in this way can trust grow and be maintained in the long term."

Synodal role model for society

The step toward a church sustained by the Synodal spirit and being would also be a signal to society as a whole, according to Kaineder, Renner, and Immervoll. They point to a corresponding statement from the World Synod, which reads: "We live in a time characterized by ever-increasing inequalities, growing disappointment with traditional models of government, disillusionment with the functioning of democracy, increasing autocratic and dictatorial tendencies, and the dominance of the market model without regard for the vulnerability of people and creation. The temptation can be to resolve conflicts with violence rather than through dialogue. Authentic practices of synodality enable Christians to be a critical and prophetic voice."

In conclusion, the KAÖ leadership states in its statement: "We therefore urgently appeal to our bishops to seize the many opportunities offered by an Austrian plenary council, to adopt a corresponding resolution, and to provide the necessary resources for its timely, concrete implementation."

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