This article examines the challenges and opportunities facing the Catholic Church in India as it navigates the implementation of the Synod on Synodality. It explores the potential pitfalls of superficial implementation and emphasizes the need for genuine change, ethical governance, and open dialogue to foster a truly synodal Church. The author uses the Syro-Malabar liturgy dispute as a case study highlighting the consequences of not actively embracing listening and transparency.
On April 7, 2021, Christian devotees were seen praying outside the closed gates of St. Michael's Church in Mumbai, reflecting the restrictions imposed by the government due to rising coronavirus cases. This poignant image serves as a backdrop to a deeper reflection on the challenges facing the Catholic Church in India , particularly regarding the implementation of the Synod on Synodality .
A circular issued on February 18 by the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI) outlined the expectations for the Implementation Phase (June 2025–December 2026), emphasizing spiritual renewal, shared responsibility, and deeper communion. The directive calls for concrete actions: formation, listening, shared leadership, discernment, transparent governance, and missionary outreach. However, the author cautions against the potential for synodality to become merely a superficial exercise, where new vocabulary is layered onto old habits, resulting in consultation as a performative act. This potential for superficiality stems from inherent institutional inertia and a complex moral psychology that subtly preserves power dynamics, hindering genuine change within the Church. The author highlights the risk of synodality becoming just another event rather than fostering a new ethic of truth-telling within the Church.\The core issue revolves around the question: is synodality a cosmetic exercise or a commitment to fundamental change? Pope Francis, recognizing this risk, made a decisive move by approving and publishing the Synod’s Final Document and asserting its place within the ordinary Magisterium, demanding local implementation. The Church in India faces a critical juncture; it must either embrace genuine change or resort to superficial strategies. To illustrate this point, the author references the Syro-Malabar liturgy dispute in Ernakulam–Angamaly, a protracted conflict over the celebration of the Eucharist. This dispute escalated into protests, deep division, and public acrimony, highlighting the consequences of perceived lack of voice and predetermined outcomes. The conflict evolved from liturgical disagreements into legal battles and civil unrest, demonstrating how a lack of genuine listening can lead to the breakdown of communion and the resort to power dynamics, such as occupation, media pressure, and litigation. The underlying ethical point is that when people believe that the process of listening is predetermined, they abandon the language of communion and adopt the language of power. Synodality, therefore, should be viewed as an ethic of conflict prevention, a proactive commitment to maintaining open channels of truth to prevent anger from finding destructive outlets.\The essence of synodality lies in creating an environment where truth-telling and fairness are paramount. A philosophical perspective clarifies that legitimacy is not solely derived from right doctrine but also from just processes. Implementing this in the context of parish life raises critical questions: Do ordinary Catholics have genuine access to information, or is it curated? Are those who raise challenging questions treated as valued members of the community or as troublemakers? The article also points out the specific challenges that the Indian Church faces, including multiple rites, regional cultures, caste divisions, financial pressures, political polarization, and the increasing professionalization of Catholic institutions. These factors create a complex moral ecosystem where the implementation of synodality must navigate numerous obstacles. The author emphasizes the need for accountability and transparency, which go beyond mere devotional practices and enter the realm of governance. To make synodality a reality, there must be openness in parish finances, enabling questions to be asked without fear of retribution. Rubber-stamping councils are not synodal; they are merely decorative. A Church which is authentically synodal embraces moral adulthood, acknowledging the importance of open communication and fair processes for the community’s engagement. The failure of such practices, however, allows for opacity, and consequently, a Church's moral bankruptcy
Synodality Catholic Church India Transparency Accountability Governance Liturgy Syro-Malabar Implementation Ethics
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