US sister-auditor: Synod shows cultural divide between bishops, laypeople

This story appears in the Synod on the Family feature series. View the full series.

by Joshua J. McElwee

News Editor

View Author Profile

jmcelwee@ncronline.org

The discussions at the ongoing Synod of Bishops have shown a clear difference in mindsets between the prelates considering issues of family life and ordinary Catholics looking to the gathering in hopes for changes in church pastoral practice, one of the non-voting participants in the event has said.

U.S. Sacred Heart of Mary Sr. Maureen Kelleher  who is taking part in the Oct. 4-25 synod as one of 32 women serving in non-voting roles alongside the 270 prelate-members  said there is a clear cultural divide between bishops' and laypersons' points of view.

"There's such a culture here and a common background," said Kelleher, speaking in an NCR interview. "These men have all pretty much studied together through formation and onward  [and] are very steeped in the magisterium and the canons and the different papal documents that have come out and have formed them."

Read the full story on National Catholic Reporter.