Synodality, the Exercise of Authority, and Decision-making Processes: Who gets to Make the Decisions?

Abstract

A religious superior is one who through appointment or election assumed the responsibility of being God's representative to guide other members of the institute in their commitment to seek out and do the will of God. Hence, leadership or exercise of authority in a religious institute is a spiritual reality with social connotation. Ecclesiastical offices are established in stable manner for spiritual purposes (cf. can.145, 1). Exercise of authority within the religious domain is not a question of wielding power over other members but service, empowering others for a maximum utilization of their potentials and talents for their personal fulfil, and for the attainment of the goal of the institute for the glory of God. With the second Vatican Council, there is newness in the mode of exercise of authority and decision making in religious institute. This write up is an attempt to expatiate the novum in exercise of authority and process of decision making from the perspective of canonical legislation and in the light of the principles of the Synod on Synodality. Pope Francis initiated the Synod on Synodality in October 10, 2021 to end in October 23, 2023. With this Synod he is calling the Church to rediscover its deeply synodal nature. “This rediscovery of the synodal roots of the Church will involve a process of humbly learning together how God is calling us to be as the Church in the third millennium.” (Vademecum for the Synod on Synodality 2022). Exercise of authority also is to be done in a synodal way without however cancelling the role of religious superiors as guide of their brothers and sisters in seeking for and doing the will of God and achieving the purpose of their profession of the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity and obedience which is the perfection of charity or union with God (cf. can. 573).