Auxiliary Bishop Rob Mutsaerts of ‘s-Hertogenbosch has become the latest prelate to criticise synodality, asking what are its fruits and voicing deep skepticism about its entire model — one, he argues, that fails to teach the Gospel authoritatively and clearly at a time when that is most needed.
In a lengthy open letter to Pope Leo XIV published on his website Aug. 13 (see full English translation below), the Dutch bishop makes many significant points, including what he views to be the “greatest tragedy” of the whole enterprise.
He writes:
“The modern world is undergoing an extraordinary spiritual crisis. People are searching for meaning. Young people are searching for an identity. Loneliness is on the rise. Families are breaking down. Technology is penetrating ever more deeply into human existence. Pornography distorts sexuality. Materialism fails to satisfy. Climate change is becoming a surrogate religion for many. People are afraid of death, yet they hardly know what they are living for anymore.
And in the midst of that world, the Church possesses something extraordinary. It possesses the Gospel. The sacraments. The Eucharist. Confession. Two thousand years of wisdom. Scripture. The Church Fathers. Thomas Aquinas. Augustine. The mystics. The saints. An unrivalled tradition of art, music, philosophy, morality and spirituality. And above all: Jesus Christ.
The world is not waiting for yet another organisation to listen to it. There are already enough of those. The world is waiting for someone to tell it why it was created.”
Bishop Mutsaerts joins a number of other prelates who have been publically critical of the Synod on Synodality. They include Cardinals Joseph Zen Ze-Kiun, Raymond Burke, Walter Brandmüller, Robert Sarah, Juan Sandoval Íñiguez, Gerhard Müller, and the late George Pell. Outspoken episcopal critics have included Bishop Joseph Strickland, Auxiliary Bishop Athanasius Schneider and retired Auxiliary Bishop Marian Eleganti.
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