Pope Francis recently called for a Synod to examine the state of the Church and its direction. The first gathering last fall was intended to be the culmination of a series of meetings and studies at diocesan levels to generate an agenda for the Synod. In my own corner of the Church, I have heard nothing about the Synod. To educate myself, I would need to subscribe to magazines such as America that have examined the Synod process at some depth.

According the the U.S. Catholic News Service, some 700,000 U.S. Catholics were consulted as part of the Synod process. That number constitutes 1% of U.S. Catholics. The make-up of this 1% is unclear and so it is equally unclear as to how the people in the pews were represented. If anything, the Synod process may in fact contribute to a widening of the gap between laity and clergy.

There is much happening within the U.S. Catholic Church of which we in the pews are unaware. The Catholic Right Wing has become quite powerful and is strongly represented in the U.S. Council of Bishops as well as in the Supreme Court. This Right Wing has already counted victories in the undoing of Roe vs. Wade and the related issue of abortion rights. On the agenda of the Right Wing are also the undoing of issues related to gender rights. It would appear that the Right Wing also has its eye on the issue of birth control. It is unlikely that the Synod process will have much impact on the activities of the Right Wing. But, as Pope Francis appears to be nearing the end of his service as Pope, you can be sure that the Right Wing will actively promote the election of an archconservative new Pope. For some of us in the pews who are aware of the Catholic Right Wing, it makes us uneasy. On that Right Wing the Synod appears to be silent.

What then are issues of concern for we Catholics in the pews? We are concerned about the shortage of priests. It affects our accessibility to the Sacraments. Many of us are still disturbed by the pedophilia crisis that has rocked and continues to rock the Church. Some would like to think that the issue has gone away. It has not. Just recently a lawsuit was announced against the diocese of El Paso for a decades-old case that included a cover-up by the Church.

Many of the issues of concern overlap political issues of the day. Catholics appear divided regarding the issue of immigration. Many are aware of the American Church’s history of welcoming immigrants and many are aware of the involvement of some of our Bishops (such as El Paso’s own Bishop Seitz). At the same time, many Catholics are affected by political arguments, valid or not, of the impact of immigration of American way of life.

What many of us in the pews look for is an attitude of compassion within the Church. Compassion for the divorced. Compassion for those of a different sexual identity. Compassion for the migrant. Pope Francis’ efforts to instill such compassion have not always been well-received, And, although clergy tend to stay out of politics, we may look for guidance when making political decisions. Should I be concerned about a Catholic President who supports abortion rights? Should I be concerned about a former President’s friendship with a convicted sex criminal and his public statements about the ease of sexual conquests? Whose position on immigration is most consistent with Catholic teaching?

The concept of the Synod is valuable. Will it be revolutionary in the way that Vatican II was? If so, we laity need to be kept informed. The best vehicle for this communication would likely still be the pulpit to include letters from Bishops that are regularly read at Mass.

And, yes, there are many of us in the pews who don’t mind being made uncomfortable if our priests challenge us? Jesus’ messgae afterall was meant to make us uncomfortable about how we treat one another, uncomfortable about issues we tend to avoid, uncomfotable about the power of money and possessions. So far, there doesn’t seem to be anything about the Synod that makes those of us in the pews uncomfotable.