By Russell Shaw, Catholic World Report - While many focused on hot-button issues, the Synod’s more immediate goal was the less dramatic, but in the long run arguably more significant, objective of cutting back on clergy-only hierarchy... That is perhaps the chief conclusion to be drawn from the first session of the Synod, which took place October 4-29 at the Vatican... the Synod’s more immediate goal was the less dramatic, but in the long run arguably more significant, objective of cutting back on clergy-only hierarchy.