German Bishops to discuss Motu Proprio

Cathcon translation of Auch ein Artbeitstreffen- Also a working meeting

Besides the choice of the Chairman, there are some important topics on the agenda of the bishops

Central to the Spring General Meeting of the German Bishops' Conference, which takes place from 11 to 14 February in Wuerzburg, are the election of a new Chairman of the German Bishops' Conference, a study over a full day on "Marriage and the Family" and the plans for the Year of St Paul called for by Pope Benedict XVI (June 28 2008 to June 29 2009). But there are other issues.

During study day on "Marriage and the Family" on 13 February, the currently 70 members of the German Bishops' Conference will debate the model and the situation of the family founded on marriage. Given the doctrinal teaching of the Church and the pastoral situation, the theme will be taken up from empirical family-sociological, normative socio-ethical as well as jurisprudential perspectives. The goal will be to answer the leading question of the study day : "What does the Church do to protect the unity of marriage and family?" Speakers and dialogue partners expected are Prof. Dr. Johannes Huinink, Bremen, Prof. em. Dr. Arno Anzenbacher, Mainz, Prof. Dr. Dr. hc Dieter Schwab, Regensburg, and the President of the Federal Association for Catholic Families, Elisabeth Bußmann.

Other topics of the four day General Assembly are a new liturgy book to celebrate the baptism of children, questions about the implementation of the Motu proprio, Summorum Pontificum for the Tridentine Mass in the German dioceses, as well as a progress report on the possible involvement of the Church in today's media society. In addition, a call to the German bishops to show solidarity with the Christians in the Holy Land, and reports adopted on the situation of the church in China, as well as on a mission of the German Bishops' Conference in Cameroon will be presented. Finally, issues related to publishing of liturgical texts by publishing houses, a revision of the "Guidelines for multifaith celebrations of Christians, Jews and Muslims", the religious evaluation of the EU Treaty of Lisbon, various aspects of the quality and use of church books and a change in the statutes of the University and Church Forum are on the agenda.

This year, especially recalls the first episcopal meeting in Wurzburg 160 years ago: in 1848, the bishops came together from the German-speaking areas for their first joint deliberations in Würzburg.

At the opening session of the General Assembly on 11 February, for the first time, the Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Jean-Claude Périsset will be present, as well as the foreign bishops, who participate in the Lenten Giving programme in Germany of the Bishops' Relief agency Miserior, Archbishop Orlando Quevedo Beltran OMI (Philippines), Bishop Joseph Nduhirubusa (Burundi ), and Bishop Pedro Barreto Jimeno SJ (Peru).