How Europe's Churches see the German reforms
All alone?
With the "Synodal Path", German Catholics are trying to implement reforms in the Church. The Vatican has recently come in for strong criticism. But how do other countries view the German reform plans and are there similar projects elsewhere in Europe?
For the first time in the long history of the Catholic Church in Europe, an assembly of local churches from all countries of the continent met in Prague this week. This "European stage" is part of a worldwide consultation process lasting until 2024, which Pope Francis has initiated in order to renew the Church.
Nowhere is the struggle of the churches greater than in Europe
For German Catholics, the meeting was also a test of mood: How do other countries see the reform plans that have been initiated in Germany within the framework of the "Synodal Path"? And how strong is the will for change elsewhere?
It was already clear in the run-up: nowhere do church-political and theological currents collide as much as in Europe. From defenders of Catholic identity, who sharply distance themselves from postmodern arbitrariness, to advocates of an open church that embraces all variants of life, love and faith, much is represented.
Philosopher of religion Halik: German Church "important voice"
The Czech philosopher of religion Thomas Halik believes that there are many prejudices against German reform ideas in Europe and calls for them to be overcome. He attested to the assemblies of the German "Synodal Way" that they had "articulated important questions very sharply". This should be taken seriously and placed in a wider context, he told the Catholic News Agency (KNA). In the symphony of the Synod, the Church in Germany was an "important voice".
At the same time, Halik stressed that if there were to be changes in church institutions, they would have to be thoroughly prepared theologically. Even before the last reform council of the Catholic Church 60 years ago (Second Vatican Council, 1962-1965), it had taken a whole generation of theologians to prepare the renewal of the Church. Halik advocated not to make the questions raised in Germany taboo, but to debate them publicly.
Gilles: Europe's Catholics experience the Church very differently
In the view of Beate Gilles, Secretary General of the German Bishops' Conference, there are very different perceptions in Europe of the state of the Catholic Church and of possible reforms. Currently in Prague, she noticed "that within the Church in Europe, the paths to each other are sometimes wider than those between me and those outside the Church", she told the CBA: "My picture becomes wider by noticing the differences. For example, on the subject of women's participation, I notice that this is felt quite differently by us than by some women in Eastern Europe."
The danger of division caused by a "German Sonderweg" (special path), which some people had mentioned before, has so far "not been addressed in a way that could be dealt with", the General Secretary added: "Of course we are under observation, we notice that. But then it becomes clear that the Germans are not playing a special role at all. There is support for the German reform project, but "very few people really know what the Synodal Path is".
Cathcon: This is the spin they are spinning; she is correct about how few people know about the Synodal Path. It has no legim
Many Irish call for women to be admitted to the priesthood
The President of the Central Committee of German Catholics (ZdK), Irme Stetter-Karp, does not see Germany as a lone wolf on the women's issue. "I think we clearly have allies in other delegations," she told Bayerischer Rundfunk radio. Many Irish Catholics, she said, had also complained in preparation for the Synod that women were being excluded from ministries and decisions in the Church. They called for women to be admitted to the diaconate and priesthood. They also said that many who lived in love relationships that contradicted Church teaching were hurt because they felt excluded and humiliated in Church circles and by the language of Church documents.
Before the Irish, the Germans and French, among others, had already demanded far-reaching changes as a consequence of the abuse scandal. Other delegations, including the one from Austria, had demanded a more in-depth examination of the issue of abuse.
Major point of contention: the abuse scandal
The handling of the abuse scandal was one of the major points of contention in the Czech capital. Right at the beginning of the meeting, some speakers criticised a lack of consideration for victims of abuse. The most comprehensive criticism was voiced by the chairman of the German Bishops' Conference, Limburg Bishop Georg Bätzing. He said that too little was said in the contributions so far about the fact that the Church was "deeply wounded" because numerous priests and religious had "wounded people in the Church" through sexual abuse.
The situation is dramatic, Bätzing stressed. In Europe, there are "hundreds of thousands of victims" of sexual abuse by clergy. If they were not heard, no forgiveness was possible. It was incomprehensible why the victims had no voice at the Synod.
Prague archbishop relativises abuse - Irish call for radical consequences
Similar to Bätzing, the Jesuit priest Stephan Liepke, who works in Moscow, criticised the way the abuse scandal has been dealt with in the Synod so far. He mentioned the sermon of Prague Archbishop Jan Graubner at the opening service on Sunday evening. He had spoken of "some scandals" by men of the church and by clergy, but in reality there were many scandals and violations. It is a "huge problem that we have to address seriously to find out what conversion and a new beginning can mean", the Jesuit said.
The Irish delegation to the European leg of the World Catholic Synod has called for radical consequences from the church abuse scandal. The abuse had torn deep wounds and destroyed the faith of many, said a statement of the Irish delegation read out by a Catholic and a priest. This affected the victims most of all, but also many believers, priests and bishops. Many could no longer hear good news in a Church that had betrayed so many.
Eastern European bishops also confess guilt over abuse
The Catholic Archbishop of Belgrade, Laszlo Nemet, announced a joint text by Eastern European bishops on the subject. Nemet explained that the Church in the Eastern countries only seems to be less burdened. This is due to the fact that under communism until 1990, the Church was closely monitored by the secret police and clerical abusers were severely punished. After the fall of communism, many documents were destroyed. But that does not mean that there was no abuse in the East.
ZdK President Stetter-Karp: "Wind of change" noticeable
Because of the different positions and the diversity, ZdK President Stetter-Karp can imagine that there will be different speeds of implementation. She would like to see "experimental spaces" and the recognition of different realities of life and realities.
The "wind of change" has become perceptible, she told Bayerischer Rundfunk. She herself has been a priestess for many years and could imagine the office of a deaconess as a first step. But it is also important that everyone in the Catholic Church stays together - despite all the differences.
Bätzing takes Pope Francis to task for reforms
Georg Bätzing, President of the German Bishops, expressed similar views. He said Pope Francis had a duty to reform. "I would be happy if it were allowed at the level of the universal Church that things are possible in some local Churches that are not or not yet relevant in other parts," he told the CBA.
According to Bätzing, Prague showed a "huge range of realities of life, cultural and political realities, and also tension and diversity". Accordingly, the preliminary final document is no more than a stocktaking: "It faithfully records what took place; but that is only a first step.
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