Synod: Religious orders as the 'hearing aid' of the Church
By JOHN L. ALLEN JR.
Rome
It?s long been an established conviction among synod-watchers that the most interesting speeches during these gatherings, more often than not, come from the heads of religious orders.
Perhaps that?s because the speeches are less solo performances than a reflection of the wisdom of an entire community, or perhaps it?s because most superiors are elected to fixed terms and are conscious they may not have this opportunity again. It may even be because serving as a superior these days requires continual travel around the world, so they?ve got long hours to fill on airplanes polishing their texts.