More democracy, diversity and participation in the church: On the Synodal Path, German Catholics are struggling to make decisions about direction. In the end, the hope for future work prevails.
The German Catholics concluded the second synodal assembly of their reform process on Saturday with “clear decisions on direction”.
He was “incredibly touched” because so much had been achieved at the three-day meeting, said the chairman of the German Bishops’ Conference, Georg Bätzing, at the end. “No text has been rejected.” Bätzing praised highly committed participants who had set a lot off the ground in very intensive working days – 13 texts were adopted in the first reading, which dealt with more participation of the faithful, sexual morality or the role of women.
Many participants went to Frankfurt with great reservations – among them Thomas Sternberg, President of the Central Committee of German Catholics (ZdK). “The mood was really bad,” admitted Sternberg on Saturday. “There was anger and anger.” Bätzing also spoke of the high emotional tension of many synodals in view of the recent decision from Rome to keep bishops in office in connection with dealing with cases of abuse.
“Spirit of Frankfurt”
But at the end of the second synodal assembly, the Osnabrück bishop Franz-Josef Bode felt the “spirit of Frankfurt” again. Is the spirit of the democracy movement, for which the Paulskirche in Frankfurt stands, also an opportunity for the Catholic Church, which, in view of the way it has dealt with the abuse scandal, is also massively criticized by believers who have remained loyal to it so far?
“We have shown that synodality is possible,” said Sternberg at the end of the three-day meeting. Personal attacks failed to materialize despite very different convictions.
“You shouldn’t let the lines of discussion be torn down,” said ZdK Vice President Karin Kortmann. “It is still a great advertising and urging.” A hearing from Rome is also being sought. So far there has been no conversation between the Vatican and ZdK representatives – for Kortmann an occasion to call the papal nuncio Nikola Eterovic back at the door of the hall: “Please don’t go yet – your car is waiting,” she assured the ambassador of the Vatican afterwards some of the participants were already striving for the exit before the closing prayer.
It would be good if the Nuncio Pope Francis “reported on a more philanthropic and more participative church”, said Kortmann. «It would be very helpful if we finally had a conversation with Rome that we have been waiting for so long. Our suitcases are packed. ” And, by the way, letters can also be answered, added the ZdK Vice President.
“We are Church” criticizes the Vatican
For the reform movement “We are Church” the process of the Synodal Way is irreversible. “The trend is in the direction of reforms and can no longer be reversed,” said Christian Weisner from the federal team of the Church People’s Movement of the German Press Agency at the end of the second synodal assembly in Frankfurt. The behavior of the Vatican is problematic.
“It is absolutely clear that we in Germany do not want to and cannot change the world church, but important solutions are being developed here,” said Weisner. Due to the voting behavior at the first readings of the papers read out during the synodal assembly, however, he had the impression that the majority of the bishops supported the decisions. Weisner said it was clear from the start that the Synodal Way was not a walk in the park, but “a rocky road”. However, there is no alternative for the church. “This is the last chance.”
The Synodal Assembly is the main body of the current reform process of German Catholics, the Synodal Way. It deals with four subject areas: the position of women in the church, dealing with power, Catholic sexual morality and priestly celibacy. At the end of the path, expected in 2023, concrete reforms should be in place.
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