Authentic synodality, an inclusive discerning process involving the laity and the ordained, may be one of the most important institutional reforms of Pope Francis’ pontificate.

25 November 2021 Fifty years ago the Second Vatican Council was clear: the church is the People of God. Yet, one of the most important precepts of the Second Vatican Council, synodality, has not been fully realized. Under Paul VI and succeeding popes, synodality was enacted through a synod of bishops -- an expression of episcopal collegiality, not synodality of the whole church.

Authentic synodality, an inclusive discerning process involving the laity and the ordained, may be one of the most important institutional reforms of Pope Francis’ pontificate.

As the Catholic Church and the whole People of God engages in the 2021 - 2023 Synod on Synodality: Communion, Participation, and Mission, We Are Church International call for the following:

We advocate for Pope Francis’s call for a revolution in the structure of the Catholic Church; where radical change moves the church from a top down institution to an inverted pyramid with the pope and the bishops “below” and “in service to the holy faithful people of God” above so that the whole People of God may come together in authentic partnership to discern the best way forward on critical matters facing Catholics today.

Because synodality calls for all the People of God to be involved in decision making, We Are Church urges Pope Francis to replace the Synod of Bishops with an Assembly of all the People of God that reflects the diversity of the church; where at least 50% of the assembly are women who are chosen by the laity.

Colm Holmes
Chair, We Are Church International
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M +353 86 606 3636

You are invited to purchase a new greeting card which We Are Church - Ireland have launched:

WE ARE ALL CHURCH is a message we want to share particularly during the synod process as we seek to have ALL the people of God included. The Synod in October 2023 should not just be made up of bishops - it should be transformed into an Assembly of all the People of God (with a minority of clerics; 50% women and the non-clerics should NOT be selected by the clerics).

A pack of 6 cards and envelopes costs €12.00 which includes postage to anywhere in the world. Please order from the WAC ireland website CLICK HERE.

WAC International celebrate 25 years in Rome

We Are Church International (WAC) support Pope Francis’ plans for the worldwide Synodal Process and for an inverted pyramid structure, with the pope & bishops serving the people of God. 

“What affects all must be decided by all. This old concept of the Church has to be revitalised!” Colm Holmes from Ireland, chair of WAC, said at the jubilee conference of this worldwide Catholic reform group in Rome October 29-31, 2021.

“Maintaining patriarchal autocracy and preserving power and priveliges of clerics would prolong the cause of the criminal sexual and spiritual abuse that has led our church into this deep crisis”, Dr. Martha Heizer said, co-founder of We Are Church Austria in 1995.

The actual crisis shows that the 5 original goals of WAC are relevant for the whole church today and are now on the agenda of synodal meetings world wide:

• Shared Decision Making
• Women in all ministries
• Primacy of Conscience
• Optional celibacy
• Welcome for all

Vigil in Rome

WAC gathered in Piazza Vittorio Emanuele ll on 27 October 2021 protesting that 99.9% of the people of God will have no vote in the 2023 Synod on Synodality – which Synod does not represent the people of God. We are told it is the process that is important, not the voting – but the bishops will no doubt be voting in October 2023? Nevertheless we encourage everyone to send submissions to the Synod on all the many issues of concern.

Future Agenda

WAC as a globally networked, ecumenical Catholic reform movement will in the coming years:

• support communities to BE THE CHURCH we want to see
• seek structures where the people of God can discuss and implement reforms
• work in solidarity for justice, peace and the integrity of creation

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Colm Holmes and Martha Heizer
Chair, We Are Church International Vice Chair, We Are Church International
E This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.E This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
M +353 86 606 3636 M +43 650 4168500
W www.we-are-church.org W www.we-are-church.org

We Are Church International (WAC) founded in Rome in 1996, is a global coalition of national church reform groups. It is committed to the renewal of the Roman Catholic Church based on the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) and the theological spirit developed from it.

9 October 2021 

We welcome the opening of the worldwide Synodal process today in Rome. Pope Francis is to be congratulated for promoting dialogue rather than silencing. 

But the Synodal process as it is set up only gives a small window in the first phase for the people of God  to let their voices be heard. The subsequent phases are all in the hands of our unelected bishops. For too long the people of God have been excluded from decision making in our church. It is important that those voting at synods should for the largest part represent the people of God and especially women. 

What affects all must be decided by all.

Colm Holmes 
Chair, We Are Church International
E  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
M  +353 86 606 3636
W  www.we-are-church.org

We Are Church International (WAC) founded in Rome in 1996, is a global coalition of national church reform groups. It is committed to the renewal of the Roman Catholic Church based on the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) and the theological spirit developed from it.