Catholics in the Diocese of Dallas are being encouraged to voice their opinions about the preparation material for next year’s extraordinary Synod of Bishops on the family.
The Diocese of Dallas is one of a handful around the country that have online ways for everyday Catholics to weigh in on the discussions bishops from around the world will have with Pope Francis at the synod Oct. 5-19, 2014.
Pope Francis this past October called for the third extraordinary synod to be held since Pope Paul VI reinstituted synods in 1965 to periodically advise him on specific topics. Extraordinary synods are defined in canon law as intended to “deal with matters which require a speedy solution.”
Participants will primarily be presidents of national bishops’ conferences, the heads of Eastern Catholic Churches and the heads of major Vatican offices, totaling about 150 people, according to Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, the Vatican spokesman.
In preparation for the synod, its secretary-general, Archbishop Lorenzo Baldisseri, sent bishops’ conferences a preparatory document that included a 39-item questionnaire asking about the promotion and acceptance of Catholic teachings on marriage and the family, and cultural and social challenges to those teachings.
The Diocese of Dallas is among a group of dioceses that has provided links to an online survey, which can be found by clicking here: Synod Survey – Diocese of Dallas.
