SYNODALITY IMPLIES ACCOUNTABILITY. ACCOUNTABILITY REQUIRES A SYNODAL CHURCH A THEOLOGICAL REFLECTION WITH CANONICAL IMPLICATIONS

With the Synod on Synodality (2021-2024), the Catholic Church has embarked on becoming a more synodal Church to strengthen its missionary task. In its first steps, the focus lies on being a listening Church. The call for being a synodal Church is not merely another important step in the reception of Vatican II. In particular, the disastrous handling of allegations of sexual abuse in the Church has revealed how much a systemic change in exercising leadership is necessary: there is strong call for holding leaders accountable. After tracing the call for accountability, the study investigates whether synodality implies accountability and if the call for accountability stipulates a Church that is synodal in mentality and operations. The Church understood as communio provides the theological basis for the reflections. The study concludes that synodality implies accountability, and accountability requires a synodal Church.