Costelloe has spoken out in support of the synod process, calling it a "fantastic opportunity" for the Catholic Church to engage with the contemporary world.

He has urged adding that the synod is inviting the Church to remember that Christ is at its heart.

"We are listening not to see whether or not people have understood the right things but where people are at. I think that's been very important," he said.

"It's been very important that the bishops are genuinely listening, and listening respectfully and listening in a non-defensive way. Because otherwise, how can we respond if we don't really understand the situation."

Archbishop Costelloe rejected the criticisms of the synod by his late compatriot, Cardinal George Pell, who described it as a "toxic nightmare" in an article published posthumously in The Spectator.

Speaking to the "Church's Radical Reform" podcast, Archbishop Costelloe said, "I don't think it is a nightmare, I think it is a fantastic opportunity for the Church. I think it is full of promise for us."

"It is inviting us to remember who is at the heart of the Church. It's not me and my opinions or me and my certainties. It is Christ who is at the heart of the Church - the Spirit guides the Church," he added.

A more Christ-like pastoral approach needed

Archbishop Costelloe, who was appointed to the planning committee organising the synod assembly in October, was part of the Frascati team that synthesised the worldwide synodal dialogues.

He was also president of the plenary council in Australia, a national synodal process that laid out a blueprint for renewal and whose final decrees await Rome's approval.

The archbishop called on the Catholic Church to adopt a more Christ-like pastoral approach, insisting that contested topics must be addressed through listening and discernment.

He particularly emphasised the importance of the role of women and LGBTQ Catholics.

Costelloe drew parallels between Pope Francis's critics and the religious authorities who attacked Jesus.

"We have to model ourselves on the pastoral methodology of Jesus. At its heart it is to meet a person where they are, and respond to them where they are with openness, and with warmth, and with generosity and with hospitality and then hopefully accompany the journey," the archbishop said.

The archbishop stressed the importance of relationships and education, saying Catholicism "runs the risk sometimes as being understood as a religion of rules and regulations."

He added that while rules are necessary, "they will make no sense to anybody unless there is a spirituality behind them."

Sources

The Tablet

Vatican News

CathNews New Zealand

The Record was Australia's oldest weekly newspaper.

Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe said the decision to close the newspaper was reached after a five-month review with stakeholders, following a protracted decline in subscriptions.

"Change is sometimes difficult and there will be many people who will be sorry to see The Record in its present form no longer appear each week in our churches," Archbishop Costelloe said.

"If our goal is to use the media to spread the message of Jesus, we must try new methods and set out in new directions."

The Record will be replaced by a monthly magazine as well as newsletters.

From early September, a new e-newsletter, together with a printed four-page newsletter, will deliver news and events for the archdiocese.

The printed newsletter will be emailed directly to parishes for printing and distribution, while the e-newsletter, which will include similar content, can be sent directly to a recipient's email inbox.

The magazine and the newsletters will be edited by the archdiocese's newly-established media and communications team led by James Parker.

Mr Parker said contracted staff would keep their jobs and temporary staff had been offered further opportunities.

He said the ever-increasing digital age does not mean a decrease in the quality or quantity of content.

A goal of the new approach is to deepen engagement with society, Mr Parker said.

Archbishop Costelloe said work will be done to make the archdiocesan website more attractive to a wider group of people, including the young.

He said many such people are far more likely to use the Internet to access news and information than they are to read a weekly newspaper.

The archbishop acknowledged that not everyone has access to the Internet or is comfortable using digital technology.

This is why the printed newsletter option from parishes is to be made available.

Sources

• Herald Sun
• The Record
• Image: The Record