@Peter Dambiec We're going to have to agree to disagree. As journalists and observers it's our job to look at the dynamics inside the synod and listen to what people say. Cardinal Muller for instance only last week accused Fr Jim Martin of being a propagandist, after actually having a cordial meeting with him as part of the synod. So don't shoot the messenger, the Catholic press is here to report, analyse and scrutinise. reducing that to the level of 'gossip' is unhelpful and disingenuous. When children in Ireland reported that they had been 'touched' by the priest, they were told not to be spreading lies and gossip. So this is age old device used to quell truthfulness and openness especially but not exclusively in the Church. so respectively Peter, I don't know what your career is and I wish you well in it, but don't lecture me on mine. thanks

@Peter Dambiec Peter, we are talking about the Synod - nobody talking about doctrine. My comments were about reflections of people at the synod. I'm a journalist and an editor all my life. I don't need you to reduce what I do professionally as 'gossip' and I find your preachy tone not dialogical at all but rather very judgemental of me and the women I've been speaking with. Their testimony of how they experienced the inside of the synod hall is valid, and just because some of their experience is negative, does not mean it can be dismissed as 'gossip'. It's reality, the 'smell of the sheep' as Pope Francis would put it. I deliberately didn't name the person, if I was gossiping I would have. My reference to Card Muller and Jim Martin is an illustration, of how people were relating inside and after the synod, not a "justification" -(again the judgemental tone from you?!) - I don't need to 'justify' myself to you, I don't even know who you are or what you do and have never heard of you. Mentioning the children is also by way of an pertinent illustration from fact, that in the Church when anyone, especially women and children say anything critical of clergy they are told not to 'gossip' or what they say is a lie. So if you are confused by a couple of illustrations, that's on you. My final point and I'm not responding further to you, all voices have a right to be heard esp women and those who lack power in the church and the language that you employ is a classic example of that used to silence and push out those voices, spiritual language used to take the higher moral ground and silence those who are speaking, You in fact rushed to judge the woman, that you don't know, you haven't met, and don't know the full facts. I do know her and she's an amazing intelligent woman, the likes the church needs but finds hard to hold onto because of clericalism. So instead of judging, and pronouncing on stuff you really don't seem to have any experience of such as journalism and reportage, take a look at your need to judge and pronounce from on high. Over and out.

@Germán Muñoz Thank you

@Mantas Mileris SJ Hi Mantas, thanks for that. we'd be delighted to have your voice in it too. One of the big challenges for the synod now - only the first assembly is over - is to widen the discussion and especially among young people