Catholics in the Diocese of Syracuse are once again being invited to provide their input on topics to be discussed at a meeting of world bishops.
In December 2013, Catholics responded to questions on a variety of marriage and family-related topics as part of a consultation prior to the October 2014 extraordinary Synod of Bishops on the family held in Rome. In the Diocese of Syracuse, more than 350 individual replies were received; those replies were summarized into a report and sent to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops to be used in the preparation of the national report to the synod.
Now, ahead of the October 2015 Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, the Vatican has created another preparatory document, or “lineamenta.” The first 25 section contains the “reflections, the fruit of the synodal work” that took place in October 2014. The second section contains 46 questions “aimed at a response to and an in-depth examination of” this document.
The diocese is inviting all parishes to respond to this survey and return their responses to Vicar General Msgr. Timothy Elmer. Individuals are welcome to complete the survey on their own, but are encouraged to contact their pastor to be a part of their parish’s response. Surveys must be completed no later than March 1, 2015. A report aggregating all responses will be sent to the USCCB.
The document can be found on the diocese’s website at syracusediocese.org/about-the-diocese/vatican-survey. Completed surveys should be sent to telmer@syrdio.org or Msgr. Timothy Elmer, 240 E. Onondaga St., Syracuse, N.Y. 13202.
