I experience it as a very sincere and prayer filled response. A very genuine reflection on where we stand now as a community in New Zealand. I have found it makes excellent reflective reading, stopping at the parts that really resonate with me. Parts I can say a big YES to, and parts I know would challenge me, places I know we need to go but I may feel uncomfortable about.

Clericalism is mentioned, and I suspect that lines up on a continuum, from appalling to life giving. So what is clericalism, what do we not want to see perpetuated as lay people take up more responsibility in the Church?

This document is only the start, I see nothing negative in it, but a call to us to go forward as a people. And if there is negative in it – is that bad? Do we have to wait for Rome to give their response? I don’t think so – in the meantime there is so much that we can explore as communities in our parishes, dioceses and country.

This document gives me hope for the future. I totally agree with Sue, we need to drop the blame, that gets us nowhere. But we can start with ourselves and our parishes. Sue speaks beautifully of the Eucharist, but if those who have been hurt by the church community are to experience it at the depth she names, I personally think there may be steps that need to happen before they are ready to know that. I don’t know the answer but maybe together we could do something.

I think it will take a lot of time, but I am wondering at the seeming hiatus. the document has been shared. What is happening now?