National Synod summary released

In the Fall of 2021, the 67 million Catholics in the US were invited to participate in the preparation of the worldwide Synod which will occur in 2023. In our country an estimated 700,000 participated. In the Archdiocese of Mobile, a synod questionnaire was sent to each pastor inviting his parishioners to participate. The synod questions were placed on the archdiocesan website and publicized in "The Catholic Week" so that anyone could participate. Our archdiocesan summary is now published on the archdiocesan website. I thank the people of our archdiocese who submitted their responses to this effort.
Each diocesan summary was sent to the USCCB for inclusion in the national summary. Recently the national summary was published and I recommend everyone take time to read it in its entirety at usccb.org. The national summary will now be sent to a continental phase and then to the Vatican.
It is impossible for me to adequately summarize the final 14-page report in this article, but allow me to offer a very brief summary for those who may not read the entire final report. This is some of what the final USCCB report included:
Catholics are experiencing “wounds” that afflict the family of the Church. There are the unfolding effects of the sexual abuse crisis. There are also the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic which negatively affected the number of people involved in ministries. Yet at the same time, the pandemic renewed in many a desire to again experience the life of the Church. 
There are deep divisions within the Church. The divisiveness found in political life has seeped into the Church to the extent that even the celebration of the Mass has become a cause of divisiveness causing people on each side to feel judged by people who differ from them. This division is perceived among bishops as well, and further, that clergy are perceived as fostering the divisiveness by allowing division to infiltrate homilies and ministries.
There is the additional wound of marginalization by those who lack social and economic standing, such as immigrants, minorities, women, homeless, incarcerated, and who have disabilities, and by others who experience their lives as impediments to participation in the Church such as the divorced and remarried and those who are LGBTQ.
People expressed that they saw the Eucharist as the source of hope for greater unity. There is a hunger for God among the people and people value the Eucharistic Liturgy. However, there is a division as to what constitutes “good liturgy.” People further desire more invigorated preaching from the clergy. At the same time, the need and desire for the Church to be more welcoming was also expressed with more involvement by the people mentioned in the paragraph above. There is a concern that the Church prioritizes doctrine over people and rules and regulations over lived reality.
The participants called for a more diverse Church, both culturally and ethnically, with more diversity in parish faith formation, liturgical celebrations and social experiences. Language barriers were frequently mentioned although many felt progress was being made with multilingual Masses and clergy. The ordination of women emerged in synod consultations not primarily as a solution to the issue of the priest shortage but as a matter of justice. Racism and racial reconciliation were also expressed concerns.
There were widespread expressions of the great pain in the fact that many young people have departed the Church and the perceived connection between young people leaving the Church and the desire by many young people who want the Church to speak out on issues that matter to them, especially justice, race and climate change. Young people expressed their desire to be seen and heard, especially by participating meaningfully in parish and diocesan councils and ministries.
There was a common hope for lifelong spiritual, pastoral and catechetical formation as disciples. Bible study, in-person and online courses, lectures, small group discussions and convocations were mentioned.
Another aspect viewed as central for the need for greater formation for seminarians and clergy to better understand human and pastoral needs, possess cultural sensitivity and awareness, have a greater emphasis on social justice, share resources with the needy, balance the adherence to dogmatic teachings of the faith with care for the emotional needs of their parishioners, and to learn to speak the truth with empathy, creativity and compassion. Additionally, there was a frequently expressed hope for strengthening communication between dioceses and parishes, between parishes and parishioners, and between parishes and parishes. There was a frequent expression of the need to include the laity in decision making and recognizing the role of the laity in the mission of the Church.
I have tried to summarize the report as accurately as possible. I hope you will be able to read the entire report at usccb.org. Let us pray that as the synod process continues into its continental and universal phases, the wisdom of the Holy Spirit will guide us all.