Bonn/Vatican City (KNA) The Vatican has warned Catholics in Germany against taking unilateral motion to reform. The Synodal Path reform project initiated by the bishops and the Central Committee of German Catholics (ZdK) representing laypeople “doesn’t have the school to oblige bishops and the faithful to assume latest types of governance and latest approaches to doctrine and morals,” the Holy See said in an announcement published on Thursday.
The Synodal Presidium rejected the criticism. “We is not going to tire of emphasizing that the church in Germany is not going to follow a ‘German special path’,” it said in a joint statement by the president of the German Bishops’ Conference, Bishop Georg Baetzing, and ZdK President Irme Stetter-Karp. This was also stated within the statutes of the Synodal Path, they added.
“Nevertheless, we see it as our duty to obviously state where, in our view, changes are mandatory. In doing so, we already feel that the issues and questions we name are similar worldwide,” said the 2 presidents of the consultations on the long run of the church in Germany launched in 2019.
The Vatican said “it’s hoped that the proposals of the trail of the Particular Churches in Germany will converge into the Synodal Path being taken by the Universal Church.”
The statement got here as a surprise to many observers. It will not be yet clear who’s liable for it however it refers to earlier statements by Pope Francis.
“We see it as our duty to obviously state where, in our view, changes are mandatory. In doing so, we already feel that the issues and questions we name are similar worldwide.”
Baetzing and Stetter-Karp stressed that they might in fact “contribute to the synodal strategy of the Universal Church with the experiences and results of the Synodal Path.” At the identical time, they complained about a scarcity of communication with Vatican leaders. “For the reason that starting of the Synodal Path, we now have endeavored on the a part of the presidium to seek out direct paths of communication with the Roman authorities,” they said. This is able to make it possible to resolve open questions. “Unfortunately, the Synodal Presidium has not been invited for a discussion so far.”
Within the Synodal Path, bishops and lay representatives are specializing in the problems of power, the priesthood and sexual morality, in addition to the role of girls within the church. Topics being discussed include a re-evaluation of homosexuality, the division of power within the church and the participation of laypeople in decision-making processes within the church.
The method was triggered by the crisis of confidence within the church within the wake of the abuse scandal. The project has met with mixed reactions in Germany and abroad. While progressive Catholics welcome the reform proposals, there has also been criticism. Most recently, several cardinals, in addition to open letters from bishops around the globe, especially from eastern Europe, America and the southern hemisphere, have expressed concern a few possible schism consequently of German reform demands.
The skilled association of pastoral assistants and the progressive group “Wir sind Kirche” (We’re the Church) echoed the criticism of the Vatican’s stance. The Catholic initiative “Neuer Weg” (Latest Path) welcomed the statement, saying the church in Germany was being called on to “stop its own special paths and focus on the worldwide synodal process.”
The Catholic initiative “Neuer Weg” (Latest Path) welcomed the statement, saying the church in Germany was being called on to “stop its own special paths and focus on the worldwide synodal process.”
The theologian Julia Knop, who teaches within the eastern German city of Erfurt, said the Vatican’s concerns were unfounded: She said nobody saw themselves as being authorized to “go it alone in national church matters that require Universal Church agreement.”
ZdK Vice-President Thomas Soeding said there was no reason to finish the Synodal Path. He told the Koelner Stadt-Anzeiger newspaper that the project “doesn’t claim a mandate for changes in doctrine.” He added: “But where things are stuck, for instance in sexual ethics, there are positions that need to be discussed and decided by the Universal Church.” He said he hoped that those positions could be heard. Changes were overdue. “Rome wants more participation of the local churches – then the headquarters must also allow the local initiatives,” Soeding added. All proposals for reforms of the church leadership were fully according to church law.
Bishop Bertram Meier of Augsburg welcomed the Vatican’s paper. “I believe it is nice that the Holy See has decided to make this statement,” he said. “To begin with, this shows that Rome may be very fascinated about what is going on in Germany. The danger to unity is virulent.” He added that the Vatican had clearly stated that the paths taken by individual countries and dioceses should be integrated into the worldwide synodal process. “I can only welcome that as a supporter of the universal church and likewise as a Universal Church bishop.” The Bavarian bishop added that the Vatican was not putting the brakes on the Synodal Path but was “attempting to channel it and have it enriched by the Universal Church.”
The dean of town of Bonn, Wolfgang Picken, also praised the statement from Rome. “It was mandatory to indicate the boundaries of the Synodal Path in Germany and to contradict the self-understanding of some synodal members,” he said.
Bernhard Anuth, an authority in church law, said he was not surprised by the Vatican’s statement. He said the paper only clarified what was within the Synodal Path’s statutes. On issues that concerned the church worldwide, “every resolution can only be a request to the pope,” Anuth said on Friday. “Nevertheless, quite a few statements by distinguished representatives of the Synodal Path may very well be understood, and doubtless have been, as if Germany was currently pursuing concrete structural reforms and changes in church doctrine.”
The Roman statement “should reassure all those Catholics worldwide who’re viewing the Synodal Path with concern, while amongst Germans stuffed with hope for reform, the frustration that was to be expected has only come a bit of sooner,” said Anuth.
The Synodal Assembly, the supreme body of the Synodal Path, is to fulfill again in September to take the primary decisions. Knop, Soeding and Picken are members of the Synodal Assembly, which also includes Bishop Meier. It should also discuss the ordination of girls and a change in Catholic sexual morality. This includes calls for the blessing of homosexual partnerships.
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