Refering to tables outside your schema - HELP!!!

We are trying to refer to a table that exists in a different schema, without
prefixing it by the schema name. These are the steps we are taking.

1. First we create a public synonym on the table.
2. Next we grant select, update, delete and insert on the table to the role DEVELOPER.
3. We have already granted the role DEVELOPER to user USER.
4. When USER runs her PRO*COBOL program which calls PL/SQL which refers to this table by its synonym, she gets the error ORA-00942 Table or view not found
5. If we make the table PUBLIC, the program runs successfully. However, it is not our desire to make the table PUBLIC.

     What's wrong with this approach?

• Amy Leone ITS Consultant Mechanicsburg, PA