Bishops of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden criticised Synodal Path in Germany

There must be no more debate about those topics "which contain unchangeable parts of the Church's teaching": Northern Europe's Bishops warn Germany not to "follow the spirit of the times" on the Synodal Path.

Cardinal Anders Arborelius, President of the Conference.  

He was also the Visitor appointed by the Pope to the Cologne Archdiocese

The Bishops of Northern Europe have expressed concerns (in March) about the Synodal Way reform project of the Catholic Church in Germany. They are concerned about "the direction, the methodology and the content", they say in an open letter (Wednesday evening) to the President of the German Bishops' Conference (DBK), Limburg Bishop Georg Bätzing.

It is true that the Nordic Bishops' Conference recognised that there is a "felt need for change" in Germany. However, the topics discussed were not a "purely German" concern. "All of us must and want to heal the terrible wounds of abuse." That is why Pope Francis has called the whole Church to a Synodal search.

This process demands a "radical conversion", the letter continues. However, the process must stop at those issues "which contain unchangeable parts of the Church's teaching". This also applies to the "legitimate search" for answers to questions about the way of life of priests, the position of women and sexuality.

Divine revelation and authentic tradition

True ecclesial reform has always consisted of "defending and explaining Catholic teaching based on divine revelation and authentic tradition, and putting it into credible practice". It was not a matter of "following the spirit of the times", said the Bishops of Northern Europe. How fleeting the spirit of the times is, they said, could be seen every day.

The worldwide synodal process initiated by the Pope had raised great expectations. The risk now is "that we make the Church a project, the object of our actions, through process thinking and structural restructuring". In addition, there are many committed Catholics who do not want to fill out questionnaires or participate in debates. Their testimony must also be listened to carefully.

In view of the current reform efforts, the bishops of the Nordic countries are calling for "a higher criterion of unity". However, an "impoverishment of the content of faith" would by no means lead to a new fullness of ecclesial vitality, they point out. Despite all the problems, the Church in Germany undoubtedly has the potential to renew itself. Even today, "rich blessings can arise from its valuable heritage". - The Nordic Bishops' Conference (NBK) comprises the Bishops of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden. Criticism of the Synodal Way had recently also come from the Polish Bishops' Conference. 

Source