The days of the Synod on the Family are at an end. The Bishops and Cardinals have packed their bags and have left town, journeying back to the community that is their responsibility to lead and nurture.

 But this is only the beginning, for now we have time for the examination of outcomes: put crudely, some are asking, who won?

 Discussion of the Synod in this manner would be to miss the point entirely. To expect a sudden change over a particular issue would be to demand too much. It is however clear that the Synod hasn’t given neatly packaged solutions to the family problems it was called to address. It has brought out in to the open some of the fault lines that exist in current thinking and that must be the start of a developing pastoral discussion.

 During these last few days I have re-read Fr. Don Cozzens book, Notes from the Underground, published in 2013. In many ways it succinctly touches on points highlighted by the Synod deliberations.

 “But if taken literally, the claim to certitude is starkly dangerous. It leaves no room for doubt and doubt is faith’s cousin” (Chapter ‘Faith’ Pg 32)

 Throughout the text of Cozzens’ book those words reverberate. The chapter titles - Faith, Communion, Prayer, Power and Imagination – touch on the central aspects of our Christian commitment. It is a refreshing read for it allows space and understanding of our human frailty.

 That leads me to ask how the documents that will result from this Synod will be received by a Church showing more and more impatience with sharp edges and rigid doctrinal adherence.  For some, this impatience will result in people walking away, disillusioned. For others, they will ignore the detail of words and continue to follow their conscience.

 The Tablet editorial this week opens with this remark.

 “The most positive way of describing the final document of the international synod of bishops, which has just finished its three week meeting in Rome , is that it is a snapshot of a Church in transition. In that case the direction of travel is probably more important than the point it has reached, which is undoubtedly towards a less rigid and more open form of the Catholic faith.”

 When John XXIII called the Council, he was made aware of the problems it would cause with the Curia. Nevertheless, he went ahead. That took courage. The outcome was the rejuvenation of the Church in those heady days of the 60s. The years that followed have seen so many attempts to return to pre-conciliar days. We have benefitted greatly from the compassionate, pastoral attitude that has been the mark of Francis. Our courage now must be to continue on that journey.

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