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Very involved in his parish in Sao Paulo (Brazil), Peterson Prates says he is disillusioned by the organization of the debates around the Synod. (Photo by AVENER PRADO for La Croix)
By Marie Naudascher | Brazil
After a break of several weeks due to the long holidays, the basic ecclesial community (BEC) of Sao Mateus, in the large eastern suburb of Sao Paulo (Brazil), has resumed its weekly online Wednesday evening discussions on the Synod.
But the enthusiasm that was so evident when the process started some months ago, has given way to a certain gloom.
Peterson Prates, a 25-year-old participant who is quite involved in the local parish, does not hide his disillusionment.
"The first stage of the Synod did not fulfill its promise," he says.
"According to the calendar, we should have already handed in our copy to Cardinal Odilo Scherer, our archbishop, in December. But the phase of listening to the faithful continues until July," the young man says, expressing frustration with the tight deadline.
In order not to break its momentum, the small group from Sao Mateus has decided it will continue its discussions and submit the synthesis of its reflections directly to Rome in the summer.
But this has not prevented those most skeptical from distancing themselves from the current ecclesial debates.
"I have my doubts about the effectiveness of this process since the Church is not prepared to really listen to what the faithful want for its future," laments Guto Godoy, a professor of Church architecture and liturgy.
"Women's diaconate must be at the center of the debate"
Some concrete proposals are trying to emerge within the community.
First of all, the younger members are particularly concerned that women should be given more recognition and roles of responsibility in the Church.
"The women's diaconate must be at the center of the debate, since we see that Pope Francis wanted to open this reflection," Prates says.
Faced with the lack of priests in the gigantic outlying community of Sao Mateus, the active participation is in evidence on a daily basis.
"We want the hierarchy to give these people the central place they deserve," Prates insists.
Another key issue is the desire for a Church that is more involved in the political debate, since Brazilians themselves go to the polls in October this year to elect their next president.
The BEC members do not hide their desire to see Jair Bolsonaro, the current far right president, lose his reelection campaign to Lula da Silva, the Worker's Party icon who was president from 2003-2010.
This little group unites around the Church, but also against the current government.
"We don't miss a single demonstration against Bolsonaro. We go to Paulista Avenue with the banners of the community. We are committed Catholics, both inside and outside our Church," confides Lis, who coordinates the synodal discussions.
After 30 years of dictatorship, the Church actively participated in the democratization of the country following more than two decades of dictatorship (1964-1985). But in this election year it has perplexed human rights activists.
"It is as if human rights were a concern of the communists! Why doesn't the Church take a stand?" says Prates, who works for a left-wing member of the city council.
"We must denounce the abuse of power, authoritarianism, the rise of the extreme right, the attacks on democracy, etc." he says.
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