Episode 2598: The Synod on Synodality: Modernism and Shifting Tides

Part 1: A Modernist Agenda at Work
Alright, let’s dive right in. The Synod on Synodality marches forward, and from the looks of it, things are reaching a tipping point. We just got some breaking news. The Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter, or FSSP, is undergoing an apostolic visitation. The Vatican announced two visitators: Archbishop Emeritus of Dublin, Patricia Martin, who reportedly leans toward the progressive camp, and Archbishop Emeritus of Tours, Bernard Albertin, who seems more favorable toward tradition.
Now, there’s a lot of tension in the air, and what’s really grabbing people’s attention is how this Synod has shifted gears. We’re seeing a deliberate push to decentralize doctrinal authority giving bishops' conferences more control over doctrine, which is concerning for a Church that must remain united.
Many delegates at the Synod have pushed back against this proposal. The fear is that this could fracture the unity of the Church and open the door to relativism, where truth becomes subjective to cultural preferences. St. Paul warned us in Galatians 1:8, “But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse!” Truth doesn’t change with the times; it is eternal.
Part 2: A Glorified Listening Exercise?
Let’s take a step back and consider what we’re witnessing. Cardinal LaCroix recently said at a Synod press conference, “This experience is preparing us to be men and women capable of listening to others, even those who differ from us.” Now, that sounds great on the surface, but what are we really listening to? Are we listening to the immutable truths of the faith, or are we entertaining the whims of modernism?
The troubling part is that the Synod’s language becomes increasingly vague, masking the dangerous implications behind nice-sounding phrases. Words like “discernment” and “diversity” are used, but often at the expense of clarity. St. Augustine once said, “Right is right even if no one is doing it; wrong is wrong even if everyone is doing it.” We don’t need new interpretations of truth to fit cultural narratives—we need fidelity to the Gospel.
What’s ironic is that while this Synod claims to promote transparency, very little meaningful information is being shared. Media coverage has dwindled, and many journalists have abandoned the story altogether. Even those laity who initially bought into the process are starting to see it for what it is a subtle attempt to introduce changes that would undermine Catholic teaching.
Discussion Part 3: Pushback from the Laity
The most significant development in the Synod has been the pushback from delegates, particularly against the proposal to decentralize doctrinal authority. The proposal suggests that certain doctrinal matters could be decided at the local level rather than by the universal Church. But as many faithful Catholics have pointed out, “A fragmented faith means a fragmented Church.”
This decentralization is exactly what proponents of the German Synodal Way have been advocating for. They want to normalize practices like same-sex blessings and open the door to female ordination. But let me remind you—Christ established one Church, not a collection of local communities with differing doctrines. The papacy and the episcopacy are divinely instituted, while national bishops' conferences are man-made structures with no theological grounding. They’re modern innovations, and frankly, they’ve done more harm than good.
As Pope St. Pius X warned, “The true friends of the people are neither revolutionaries nor innovators, but traditionalists.” Any attempt to change doctrine to meet cultural demands is not reform it’s modernism, plain and simple. And as Catholics, we must resist it.
Part 4: A Pre-Determined Outcome?
It’s no secret that the Synod organizers have a specific agenda, and it’s becoming increasingly clear that the outcome may already be decided. This playbook isn’t new. We’ve seen it before with the Amazon Synod and the Synod on the Family. They introduce radical ideas, allow some discussion and pushback, and then present a “moderate” final document that still contains dangerous innovations—just watered down enough to appear reasonable.
As St. Paul tells us in 2 Timothy 4:3-4, “For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” That’s exactly what we’re seeing truth being replaced by convenience and consensus.
Brothers and sisters, we are living in challenging times, but the Church has faced storms like this before. Our duty is clear: to defend the truth handed down to us by Christ and His apostles, even when it’s inconvenient, even when we face opposition from within. This is not the time for complacency but for action—through prayer, fasting, and faithful witness.
As St. Athanasius once said, “If the world goes against the truth, then Athanasius goes against the world.” We, too, must stand firm, no matter what direction the world or even parts of the Church may go.
If you thought the confusion couldn’t get worse, well, buckle up because the latest news only confirms how far things have gone off track.
In his final article before his passing in January 2023, Australian Cardinal George Pell warned that this Synod was shaping up to be a nightmare. Yet, here we are watching what seems like a bizarre theater production unfold.
Let’s be clear: conservative media have tuned out, likely because mainstream outlets aren’t even touching the real story—this doctrinal decentralization argument buried within the reports. You’ll find coverage on LifeSite and the National Catholic Register, but not much else. Meanwhile, the media that should be pressing hard at the Vatican press conferences... well, let’s just say they’ve been giving this plan a free pass.
What’s going on here is dangerous nonsense, and it needs to be called out. So today, let’s break this down and take a hard look at one of the most outrageous proposals that’s come from the Synod.
A Global Sisters Report, that’s a publication from nuns, most of whom don’t even wear habits anymore—floated an astonishing idea: They want the consecration of nuns to be recognized as equal to holy orders, effectively creating a new sacrament. Really? an eighth sacrament.
This isn’t just about deaconesses. No some of these radical delegates want women bishops. And we know where that’s headed: a female pope. I’m not exaggerating. If a woman can be made a bishop and let’s be clear, it would be invalid they’re opening the door to a "popette."
But this isn’t just some fringe group. These ideas are being entertained at the Synod, and those proposing them are being given platforms to spread this heterodoxy.
And what’s worse, Pope Francis isn’t correcting them. No, instead, his harsh words seem reserved for traditionalists. That should tell you a lot. These radical nuns openly say the problem lies with the Church’s "present understanding" of holy orders which, by the way, hasn’t changed since the Last Supper.
The arrogance here is mind-boggling. These voices are demanding that the Church abandon its teaching, submit to modern values, and accept what the world wants. They’re pushing to declare that the only reason women don’t receive holy orders is because of their flesh. And if the Church won’t ordain them, they propose a workaround: declare the consecration of nuns as a sacrament. They even say it would solve the priest shortage. You see the logic? If we call it a sacrament, suddenly more women will join religious life, and voilà! Problem solved
This is what happens when people start bending Scripture to fit their agenda. They try to turn Christ into a revolutionary figure who came to overturn social structures, rather than the Son of God who fulfilled the law. They quote St. Paul out of context like in 1 Corinthians 11:3, where Paul says that "Christ is the head of every man, and a husband the head of his wife." They twist it to argue that consecrated women somehow become “another Christ” through their imitation of Him.
This is heresy. And if we had strong leadership in Rome, they’d be told exactly that. But instead, we have a pope who’s more interested in appeasing modernists than defending the faith.
We have to pray hard for the Church. This decentralization nonsense isn’t going away, and the next time they gather, they’ll just keep pushing. They’ve already given these radicals a voice and they’ll be back next year with more reports and proposals, hoping Francis will give them the green light.

I know some of you might feel discouraged. But here’s the thing: this is nothing new. The Church has faced heresy before, and she’ll face it again. What matters is that we stay faithful and resist these errors. And yes, when the nonsense is this blatant, it’s okay to laugh a little. It shows we know the truth—and the truth has a way of exposing absurdity for what it is.
All right, folks, that’s it for today’s show. Thank you for tuning in, and as always, pray for the Church. Pray for the conversion of these people leading others astray, and pray that we get strong leadership to correct these errors.
And until next time, stay strong, stay faithful, and Ave Maria.
Let us pray for the Holy Father, the bishops, and all those participating in the Synod, that they may be guided by the Holy Spirit and remain faithful to Christ and His Church.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Lord Jesus, You are the way, the truth, and the life. We ask You to strengthen our hearts and minds so that we may always seek Your truth and remain faithful to Your Church. Protect us from the snares of the enemy and the confusion of false teachings. Grant wisdom to our leaders, that they may uphold Your commandments and preserve the unity of Your Church. Through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of the Holy Rosary, may we persevere in love and truth until the end.
Amen.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.