Reaction to the Interim Report Study Group 9, published by the General Secretariat of the Synod on 17 November 2025
What springs most into view for me, a lesbian catholic, is that homosexuality is one of three issues formerly labeled as “controversial”, which in this report are reframed as “emerging”.
Homosexuality now stands proudly listed, as emerging issue, with “conflicts and the non violent practice of the Gospel” and “violence against women in situations of armed conflict”. Emerging not to take as new in a timeline sense — the invoked issues being all three as old as humanity — but as coming into view. Study Group 9 draws back the worn curtain of a certain sanitized family Catholicism and (re)introduces three elements of broader human reality into the church realm. We now are staring the Church in the face. And the Church stares back at us from the synodal table, without condemning, curious to relate. This is courageous, this is new.
Underlying this new fearlessness is a paradigm shift brought about by the typical synodal practice of conversation in the Spirit. First the field is cleared by exposing several obstacles: the insufficiency of concepts when what has to be translated into how, the tension between aiming a shared goal while valuing diversity, resistance to changing practical and mental habits. This opens space for dialogue and relationality in a shared dynamic of learning: life of the believer and doctrine stand in mutual interaction. To facilitate this dialogue experts from diverse backgrounds and competencies are consulted and their feedback taken into account.
The Church observes, listens, invites and promises transparency in the development of theological and spiritual principle expressions.
Lastly I want to remark that the study group validates the principle of subsidiarity in doctrinal matters by citing Amoris Laetitia, no. 3: “Not all discussions of doctrinal, moral or pastoral issues need to be settled by interventions of the Magisterium. Unity of teaching and practice is certainly necessary in the Church, but this does not preclude various ways of interpreting some aspects of that teaching or drawing certain consequences from it. […] Each country or region, moreover, can seek solutions better suited to its culture and sensitive to its traditions and local needs”.
Amen, Alleluia.
Agnes Burg, 19 11 2025