Catholic Church becomes a second Protestant church in Germany

"Under the table"

Is the Catholic Church becoming a second Protestant church in Germany?  The accusation comes not only from the Vatican.  The latest statement in particular is fuelling the debate.  Ulrich Ruh sees a clear trend, not only since the Synodal Path began.

DOMRADIO.DE: What is the basic relationship between the Synodal Path and the Protestant Church?

Ulrich Ruh (honorary professor at the University of Freiburg, Catholic theologian and commentator): The understanding and practice of church leadership are so different in the Protestant and Catholic churches that possible contacts are limited from the outset.  Both churches have their own system of church leadership and, as far as I can see, they want to stick to it.  That is why ecumenism must continue in other fields.

DOMRADIO.DE: What does this mean for the Synodal Path and ecumenism?

Ruh: The Synodal Path, like the Würzburg Synod at that time, is a Catholic matter.  It is an attempt, on the basis of the Catholic understanding of the Church, which is officially also fully stated in the Second Vatican Council, to find ways of dealing with certain crises and problems in the German Church or future issues as jointly as possible.  However, there is no comparison with a Protestant synod.

DOMRADIO.DE: The statement from the Vatican has provoked various reactions.  The critics of the Synodal Path have cheered.  The bodies that sat around the table for years, discussing, formulating texts, were naturally disappointed.  How did you read the statement?

Ruh: I don't find it dramatic in that it simply reminds us of basic principles of the Catholic understanding of the Church, which do not have to be the basis of business, so to speak.  They remind us that there is a supreme authority in the Pope and of the individual bishops over their dioceses.  There is nothing wrong with that.

It is rather a problem that there is obviously a communication difficulty between those responsible for the Synodal Path, on the one hand, and the Holy See, on the other hand. They have not managed to really clarify each other's positions and to enter into a dialogue.

DOMRADIO.DE: The new Protestant Regional bishop of Baden, Heike Springer, has said that she would like to maintain the ecumenical contact, even though the latest developments due to the Vatican's statement are a great challenge.  What does this statement now mean for ecumenism in Germany?  Was it really hoped that there would be more scope for co-operation?

Ruh: No, ecumenism functions in many areas without any problems, so to speak.  I am thinking of the social sector as well as ecumenical social centres.  I'm thinking of educational work, which is done to a great degree by ecumenical educational organisations.  I am thinking of co-operation in Christian service and in the charitable sector.  This works even though the leadership structures in both churches remain different.

I was somewhat disturbed that the reform processes in the two churches were carried out with their backs to each other, so to speak, and that experiments were carried out.  It would probably have been possible to proceed better by establishing contact and providing information in good time.

DOMRADIO.DE: There have always been fears of a Protestantisation of the Catholic Church, also through the Synodal Way.  Is that justified from your point of view?

Ruh: Yes, the Catholic Church is becoming a bit more "Protestant", so to speak, through the mundane reality.  For example, if there are practically no more priests on the Catholic side - that's an exaggerated way of putting it but it's not entirely wrong - then the whole argument about the ecclesiastical office and its profile and rights ultimately becomes obsolete.

In the same way, if there are fewer and fewer Eucharistic celebrations in the Catholic Church as an early form of worship on Sunday, then the question of communion at least becomes more relaxed.  The Catholic Church is also becoming a bit more "Protestant" as a result, since it is now embarking on a Synodal Path overall, even at the world level.

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