WILL THE WILD, WILD WEST OF CONGREGATIONALISM BE PLACED ON STERIODS WITH POPE FRANCIS SYNODALITY? I FEAR SO! IT'S THE WILD, WILD WEST NOW EVEN PRIOR TO POPE FRANCIS' INITIATIVES

Crux has an article on a speech our new papal nuncio gave to Catholic University last night. You can read the entire article here, but this quote I find interesting if not disturbing:

Apostolic Nuncio to the U.S.: “Unity Prevails over Conflict”

(Archbishop Christophe Pierre, the new apostolic nuncio to the United States stated:) While praising the spiritual benefits of synodality, Pierre said it could produce a number of practical outcomes, including a “healthy decentralization” at all levels of the Church, resulting in greater deference to local bishops, priests, and even parish councils.

“Involving the laity is by no means an abdication of authority,” he added, but part of a mindset of shared responsibility that Francis wants to foster within the Church. “The involvement of all the faithful in the synodal process in helping the Church to be a synodal Church helps the Church to be more fully and spiritually alive,” said Pierre.

My Comments and questions:

I can remember our late former bishop, Bishop Raymond W. Lessard (chairman for many years of the Doctrine Committee of the NCCB) criticizing priests who acted as though they were in "private practice" and parishes that took on the congregationalism of the south's Baptist Churches. 

It seems to me that what Archbishop Pierre is suggesting is precisely a congregationalism either on the national, diocesan or parish level that will rival anything the Baptists are doing.

Personally, I am in favor of subsidiarity. This means solving on the lowest level what can be solved without having to rely on the bishop or pope to do it for us.

Since it appears that different bishops are interpreting Amoris laetitia in different ways, some in a conservative fashion and others in a wildly liberal way, why not allow each priest to do the same, not just for Amoris Laetitia, but also for the style of liturgy, EF or OF or an OF that appears to be EF, such as kneeling for Holy Communion, intinction, ad orientem, and the like. 

And if a parish priest wants to bless a same sex union after accompany the couple, what's to stop him?