JOHN SIBBALD argues that some of the material included in the bishops’ report on the synodal process in Scotland is unsubstantiated and out of sync with the whole.

In his article ‘The art of synthesis’ (The Tablet, 13 August 2022) Austen Ivereigh describes a synodal assembly as ‘not just an exchange of opinions, a place to vent, a political venue to advance agendas, but a prayerful exercise in humble listening, where – just like the synodal gatherings described in the Acts of the Apostles – all get to speak, and people feel free to speak honestly and directly.’ Ivereigh also reflects on the problems in deciding how much weight to give to differing views, while trying to be true what people had said, and ‘filtering out enough content to focus on what fell within the synod theme of synodality itself, expressed in participation, communion and mission.’

John Sibbald is the founder of the Albertus Institute for Science and Religion, a member of the Scottish Laity Network and a former Trustee of the Newman Association.