James Martin, S.J., a renowned author and editor at large for America Media, has taken on another role: delegate to the Synod on Synodality.
He will discuss his participation in the synod and his views on the objectives of the Catholic Church’s Synod on Synodality during a public conversation on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, with Carol Costello, former CNN anchor, journalism lecturer, External Relations special advisor and ambassador. Called “Healing a Divided Church through Synodality,” the event is part of the “Jesuits in Conversation with …” series and will take place at 5:30 p.m. PST in the Featherston Life Science Auditorium.
“Father Martin’s renown, compassion and courage make him an important voice in the discussion on healing the Church,” said Costello. “I’m looking forward to a thoughtful conversation about the pope, attending the synod, and the divisions within our Church.”
Father Martin expects to convey his impressions from the first session, and the preparations for the second session in October 2024. Called the “most significant Catholic gathering since the 1960s” by The Washington Post, the synod — a gathering of the church’s highest consultative body, which for the first time includes lay people and women as voting members — met in October and included broad consultations on the issues facing the church, which many people see as divided internally. The delegates will consult with a broad range of people and entities then will reconvene in October 2024 before offering a final set of recommendations to Pope Francis.
A widely sought-after commentator, Father Martin is the author of the bestselling “The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything: A Spirituality for Real Life,” “Jesus: A Pilgrimage,” and My Life with the Saints.” His 2017 book “Building a Bridge: How the Catholic Church and the LGBT Community Can Enter into a Relationship of Respect, Compassion, and Sensitivity” has been praised and condemned within the Church.
The event, co-sponsored by Catholic Studies, LMU Jesuit Community, CSJ Center for Reconciliation and Justice, and the Chancellor’s Office, will be followed by a reception on the Rose Hill Terrace.
