Synodality in Reality

This week, Eric, Emily, and Dylan tackle the Catholic Church Synod on Synodality taking place starting this week at the Vatican. What is the Synod on Synodality all about? What issues facing the Church—the ordination of women, the blessing of same-sex couples, married priests, and more—are on the table? What power does the Synod actually have? And could this Synod have just been an email? Next, the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, or PEPFAR, is up for renewal, and there are some conservative lawmakers who don’t want to renew it because of concerns over potential funding of abortion. Are those concerns valid? And if so, are they valid enough to scuttle what is largely agreed to be one of the most successfully public health programs in recent memory? And finally, California has raised the minimum wage for fast food workers to $20 an hour. What could go wrong? Quite a few things, actually. Say hello to your friendly new robot burger chef!   Vatican Assembly Puts the Church’s Most Sensitive Issues on the Table | New York Times A Public Health Setback | New York Times Poverty, Inc. PovertyCure How to Have a Great and Holy Council | Dylan Pahman, Religion & Liberty Online New California law raises minimum wage for fast food workers to $20 per hour, among nation’s highest | Associated Press The social responsibility of Chick-fil-A is to make delicious sandwiches | Dylan Pahman, Religion & Liberty Online