A Theological Review of the Amazon Synod

Catholics the world over have been disturbed, demoralized, scandalized, and galvanized by the recently completed Amazon Synod. In this lecture, given November 24 in Houston, Texas, I focus on four major topics: first, the violations of the first Commandment that took place at the Vatican; second, and following closely on the first, the confusion of inculturation with syncretism; third, the proposal to abolish mandatory clerical celibacy; and fourth, the proposal to ordain deaconesses. By the end, we will be able to see that a red thread connects all of these topics to each other.