"Brother Timothy," said the Monsignor, well aware of the suspicions of his audience, "I have a favor to ask of you."
This was not what the monk had been expecting and the opening caught him by surprise, so he just nodded.
"The Bishop has asked me to help him appoint an Archdiocesan Synod," Msgnr Schrattenbach continued, picking up a sheet of paper from his desk and pretending to consult it. "We have not had a Synod in this diocese in some time, and the Bishop feels the need to reach out into the community and gauge the effects of The Holy Father's latest message, especially on the broader religious community and members of our own laity." He paused to check that Brother Timothy was listening.
Not knowing why the Monsignor was telling him this, Brother Timothy just nodded his head slightly, and waited.
"The Syllabus of Pope Pius IX was published last December, and, of course the Bishop and I read it at once. However, the Bishop is now concerned that its effects may be wider than we had at first considered, so he has decided on appointing a Synod to advise him." Slight pause. "And we would like you to be a part of that deliberative body. Will you accept?"
A multitude of thoughts ran through Brother Timothy's mind. What the Monsignor was offering him was the chance of a lifetime! An appointment to an Archdiocesan Synod was a much sort after honor. These synods had started in the 4th century and their broad membership consisted, not only of priests and prelates, but superiors of all religious communities and even carefully selected laity. They had no executive power but were formed mainly as a consultative bodies and were used as a way of helping the Bishop correct errors in doctrine and morals, primarily by providing authentic teaching.
Synod members had high standing in their community, but, to Brother Timothy, participation in such a synod would have a value above mere prestige. He would be brought into regular contact with all sorts of powerful people within the Church, and provided with an unprecedented means of promoting his own advancement. For, as Msgnr Schrattenbach had shrewdly guessed, Brother Timothy was fatally ambitious.
Unlike the Monsignor, Brother Timothy had not been born into a wealthy or well connected family. He had struggled hard to get where he was now, relying mainly on superior intelligence and an ability to take advantage of every chance that was offered. He knew, better than most, that in order to advance further he needed a mentor; someone who would advise him, protect him, promote him and watch over his career. Without such a mentor he would never rise higher than Abbot of a monastery, if that.
Was Schrattenbach offering him this chance? He looked again at the man behind the desk, who was still waiting for an answer, and tried to assess the risks and the rewards of accepting. In December of 1864, Pope Pius IX had issued his "Syllabus of Errors" that, along with an encyclical letter Quanta Cura, condemned everything new and anything that smacked of freedom. In its opening statement on Pantheism, he bitterly attacked the idea that - 'Human reason, without any reference whatsoever to God, is the sole arbiter of truth and falsehood, and of good and evil; it is law to itself, and suffices, by its natural force, to secure the welfare of men and of nations.' In all, the "Syllabus" listed 80 'errors' that the Pope heatedly condemned, most of which were the contemporary views of reasonable people.
Adding fuel to the fire, Brother Timothy was well aware of the Pope's recent concordat with the President of Ecuador in which the Catholic Church was give a monopoly of religion in that country.
It was Brother Timothy's opinion, and that of many others, that the Holy Father seriously wanted the rest of the world to follow Ecuador's lead, and had issued the "Syllabus" and the encyclical in a nightmare of religious intolerance. The effects this "Syllabus" was having across the Catholic and Christian world, was just being measured. In England it was suggested, not without humor, that the pope should "as soon pray against the first law of motion" as have his wishes met, and that "There is scarcely a political system in Europe, except the Papal Government, that does not rest on the principles which are here declared damnable errors".
In Austria, the new constitution had been violently attacked by the Pope, and in 1852 he had persuaded Tuscany to forbid Jewish doctors from practicing medicine. One consequence was that the Catholic citizens of Austria were beginning to be seen as unpatriotic. Desperately, the Bishop was trying to dilute the impact of this "Syllabus" by sharing the responsibility for its interpretations with as wide a circle as possible. Did Brother Timothy want to be associated with matters this controversial, and potentially explosive?
On the other hand, could he afford to refuse? Bishop Schaffgotsche had only appointed one other Synod that Brother Timothy could remember, and some of its members were still reaping the rewards of their participation to that day. At the very least, after such a synod, he would be a recognized man of importance and would have been marked out as a person of consequence. He would also have Monsignor Schrattenbach as his mentor, and as the ambitious prelate rose through the ranks of the Church hierarchy, he might take the monk with him. It was tempting indeed.
"I am overwhelmed by your offer," he said, "the Holy Father has indeed given us all a lot to think about in his latest letter."
"True enlightenment often blinds those that unprepared for its revelations," replied the Monsignor, "we must all do our best to help the Bishop in his work of presenting the Holy Father's teachings."
"I agree," the monk told him.
"Then you will accept the Bishop's offer of a place on the Synod?"
"How can I refuse," Brother Timothy said, bowing his head and trying to look humble. "We must all work together in times like these. For the common good, you understand."
"Of course," the Vicar General said in a voice like silk. The fish had the hook in his mouth, all he had to do now was sink it in. "I am so glad you have found it in your heart to help us." He smiled.
Brother Timothy started to get to his feet, but the Monsignor waved him back down.
"In a few days you will be receiving an official letter from the Bishop appointing you to the next Synod. Please accept my congratulations on your advancement." He had chosen those last seven words with great care. Hidden behind the plain text was a wealth of meaning, including, to Brother Timothy's sensitive ear, the much sort after offer of mentorship. "The duties of the Synod will be laid out in the letter, and the terms of reference will be broadly drawn. The Bishop feels that the members should have the widest latitude in their deliberations." This latter statement was not strictly true. The Bishop had opposed giving the Synod such an unrestrained frame of reference, but Schrattenbach had successfully argued that with enough rope, the synod would surely hang itself. Which, from his perspective, was the best outcome of all.
"I will also be including a list of the other members," he said, then, finally, came to the point of this whole conversation, "I believe that Father Kohl will also be joining the group. You know Father Kohl, don't you? He is the priest at St. Peter and St. Paul's" The hook went in deeper.
"Yes, I know the Father," admitted Brother Timothy, his mind still dancing with the thoughts of his future.
"He will be an important contributor to your deliberations. I know that the Bishop always puts great weight on his advice. Any recommendations from Father Kohl will be taken very seriously in the Palace."
"Yes, a wise priest," Brother Timothy said thoughtfully, suddenly aware that the conversation had taken another direction. What did this mean?
"But a troubled one at the moment," Msgnr Schrattenbach added carefully, noting the change of expression on Brother Timothy's face. He had chosen this tool well, the monk had immediately grasped the significance of what had just been said. He now understood that Father Kohl's future and Brother Timothy's future were linked.
"Perhaps, if you could spare me the time, I could tell you about it. I would value your opinion."