Listening Practices and the Synod
In presenting a paper at last Spring’s gathering on “Listening Practices in Global Catholicism” in Rome, I had the pleasure of meeting French sociologist Dr. Yann Raison du Cleuziou.
In a recent article published in the Journal of Moral Theology he discusses how the listening processes of the recent Synod — as well-intended as they were and as important for the future of the Church — failed to engage many younger Catholics. This is important insight for Catholic leaders and scholars to internalize — maybe especially those who identify most strongly with synodality and Pope Francis’ vision for the future of the Church. For deeper listening processes to do the work they need to do, they need to be designed to overcome the kinds of barriers that Raison du Cleuziou identifies, based on careful interviewing and surveying.
This is also a fine example of how careful scholarly work can ‘think with the Church’ in ways both constructive and critical, shaping a better Catholic future and through it more satisfying human communities.