Although reiterated mantra of many studies about the monopolisation of decision-making by catholic clergy when having a closer look, it seems that the complex chain of ecclesia-forming interdependences and interactions each time allows consideration that are including opinions of larger community and even of dissidents from official teaching. As it could be proved by some discourses on reinterpretation of existing teaching, e. g. clergy celibacy or ordination of women.
Maybe can be useful to distinguish two ideas. Fist: hearing others (in a broad perspective, even non catholics). This increased during XXth Century. Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis, in XXIst Century, have done a lot in this field. Second: decision making. The issue is quite complex because Roman Catholic Church is like a body with many organisms and members, and they relate in different manners. For instance: nuns are not clerics and they usually guide their comunities of nuns and lead in different areas; saint Catherina of Siena had a strong influence in the Church (influencing the decision making of popes, bishops, friars, normal christians...). However, in many cases the decision making is reserved to clerics.
Now, Roman Catholic Church feels the necessity of increasing the participation of non-clerics in processes of decision making. Synodality proposed by Pope Francis can be useful to increase their participation in these kind of processes. But Roman Catholic Church needs better theological and philosophical tools to make it work in the different contexts, organisms and institutions, respecting each one's identity (religious orders, dioceses, associations, and so forth). I think the issue needs more than a social sciences approach, because Roman Catholic Church is very complex, but in a short answer I can't say more. For further reading on synodality, you may read a paper I published some months ago (in Italian).
Best regards!
Article Miguel de Salis - La sinodalità della Chiesa. Sensi e contor...
Thank you very much for your comment; the most important thing for me is what coincides with your concluding thought, that is, that the typical approach of the social sciences is not sufficient and must be complemented by theology and perhaps philosophy. I will try to read your text, although my Italian is very poor.
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