The report of the summary of the Synodal process of the Catholic Church in the US is now available here below. I would strongly encourage you to read it. It has many positive things to say about the Church in the US and offers great hope for the future in several areas. Having said that ,it should also be noted that it does not shy away from describing the challenges which lie before us as Church

I know when this process was first announced that some thought it would avoid dealing with the tough issues facing the Church. It did not ! One section speaks of the polarization in the Church , even among the Bishops. It speaks of the negative impact of the Covid pandemic on parish life.

It speaks of the need to be a more welcoming Church. An example “ people noted that the Church seems to prioritize doctrine over people, rules and regulations over lived reality “

Another sentence from the report says. “ people who have been divorced, whether remarried or not, even those who have gone through the annulment process,, often feel unwelcome in the Church “

It speaks of how “those people of color routinely encounter racism in the Church”. It mentions that there is ‘a real crisis as to how to minister to the LGBT community ,some of whom are members of our own families “ “ Often families remain torn between remaining in the Church and supporting their loves ones”

It challenges Church leadership and laity to celebrate the positive but also to confront these challenges , to work together to create a stronger Catholic church in the US and to do this through ongoing attentive listening, respectful encounter, and prayerful discernment.

Please try to take the time to read the entire report. It is a sobering and challenging look at where we are as Church today