As we reach the half way point of the Synod on the Family, I am half way through a fascinating book, A still and quiet conscience, a biography of the now-retired archbishop of Seattle, Raymond Hunthausen.

 Apart from the half-way points, there are other connections, for within a short time of his being ordained Bishop he found himself with other bishops from the North Western United States, attending the first session of Vatican II.  The biographer, John McCoy, relates how that experience changed the man and formed the bishop. He is quoted as saying “For me to have been a bishop without the Council would have been a disaster” (pg105)

 Reading the account of his experience of the Council was a sharp reminder of the hope engendered by those years in the early 60s. Some bishops returned home to their diocesan community enthused by their discussions, determined to explore the opportunities they had been shown. Others came back with a resolve to carry on as usual. That was the assurance given by Archbishop McQuaid to his Dublin diocese.

 The journey of those years since the Council has been a story of stops and starts, times of elation and renewal of faith as well as the experience of disillusionment when retrenchment obstructed progress. All these years later, how many dioceses have a pastoral council? How many parishes have an informed and active parish council? In fact some parishes that did have such a council find that with the arrival of a new parish priest their council is discontinued. What has happened to the many attempts at forming national councils for priests?

 How much credence will be given to the outcome of the Synod when the laity is still consigned the role of bit players at the table? Tokenism, in the form of apparent consultation does not help us at all. Without doubt, the internal curial pressures on Francis are considerable. His wish for change, his reluctance to restrict dialogue, is all very well but there are those who are determined otherwise. The vision of a more inclusive, prophetic and compassionate Church is at stake. The original aspirational idea of a Synod of Bishops has been gradually restricted in subsequent years, with John Paul II determined to maintain a tight central control on both agenda and outcome.

 The centrality of the family within the Christian ethos is not in doubt. What we have to determine is how that deep experience of love is expressed with compassion and understanding within the context of the Gospel.

 Hunthausen has been called the quintessential Vatican II bishop. His subsequent ministry in the US , in later years as Archbishop of Seattle, was marked by his integrity and courage in the face of many difficulties.

 His anti-nuclear protest over the commissioning of the Trident nuclear weapons programme wasn’t the easy choice but it was a matter of conscience that he followed it. His later treatment by the CDF in the 80s was nothing short of scandalous. It was the action of fearful men rather than those in love with truth.

 Questioned about his time in Seattle , he was asked:

 “You held the position of archbishop of the Seattle diocese for 16 years. In that time, you had a huge impact on area Catholics as well as on the church as a whole. What do you think is the greatest legacy of your tenure?”

"You'd almost have to ask that question to somebody else. If I have to respond, I have to say that I brought to the church, as I understood it, what the Second Vatican Council was inviting us to become."

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