By Msgr. Hans Feichtinger, The Catholic Thing - It may seem more difficult to answer the above question than it actually is. The Fathers of the Church who, as opposed to us, had deep synodal experience, have provided quite a clear answer: Synods are good for keeping the Church unified in the one faith in the one Saviour. They are good for defining and clarifying this faith. This goal they achieve by well-formulated, concise definitions, by careful anathemas, and by opening wide the gates of reconciliation to those who have betrayed this faith, even if gravely so. ...