German delegation responds to end of European Synodal Assembly in Prague

The German delegation to the Synod Assembly in Prague is now spinning that the outcome of Prague is that the German Synodal Path is no longer a special path- but can be considered as valid for the whole Church.  This should put anyone of good Faith and sound reasoning on the very highest level of alert for the future of the Church. 

Here is their statement published on the German Bishops' Conference website:

Today (9 February 2023), the European continental phase of the worldwide synodal process came to an end. Delegations from 39 Bishops' Conferences took part. The Council of European Episcopal Conferences (CCEE) had also invited 40 other guests. In addition to the delegates in Prague, up to ten participants from each country were connected online. The meeting in Prague, which began last Sunday (5 February 2023), will be followed by a conference of the Presidents of all European Bishops' Conferences. The German delegation today draws the following conclusion to the deliberations in Prague:

The Synodal Assembly of the European continental stage of the worldwide synodal process initiated by Pope Francis has brought many insights for us. We were able to learn how the Church in the countries of Europe is setting out on the path towards becoming more and more a synodal Church. This path is not easy and - if one compares the different contributions and experiences - it is marked by different speeds and views. We are grateful that we had the opportunity to contribute our experiences of the Synodal Path of the Church in Germany in Prague, especially in the local discussions and to a limited extent online. However, the chosen methodology of listening reaches its limits if there are no opportunities for resonance and discourse.

In the continental assembly, it was important for us to recall the necessary changes that the Church needs in order to fulfil its responsibility. We were concerned to bring the systemic causes of sexual abuse to the floor as well as to call for the presence and possibility of participation of those affected by sexualised violence. We hope that this will happen at the World Synod in Rome. In the discussions and the many things we have heard, we have often felt great support from other countries. This includes in a special way the question of the participation of women in our church. But it also became clear that there are considerable differences between basic attitudes here and in countries with other cultures. We are convinced that the coming months must be used to remain in dialogue - Europe-wide - to understand each other better and to convince each other with arguments. The way to the Synod in Rome in October still takes a few months. This time must be used.

Bishop Bätzing surrendering to the spirit of the age

The final document of the European Assembly discussed today in Prague (an editorial team will prepare the final version in the coming weeks) repeats in large parts the actual preparatory document of the synodal process, "Make wide the room of your tent; Is 54:2". It is good that the themes are mentioned again here. Thus, the final document is a record of the assembly in Prague. However, the document does not say how concrete issues can be resolved for the Church. We see it as our task to continue to ask precisely these questions and to clarify them in dialogue. The document invites us to continue along the path we have chosen. We are already eager to see what final documents the other continental stages of the worldwide synodal process will draft.

As the German delegation, we make our own what has been mentioned in many places. Living synodality means agreeing and reflecting on the forms of communication and participation with all those involved. In 2015, in his speech on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Synod of Bishops, Pope Francis reminded us of a long-practised rule of communication: what concerns everyone must also be at least discussed by everyone. Synodality means not talking about each other, but with each other. We regret that people living in same-sex partnerships could not tell their life stories here in Prague. This also applies to those affected by sexual violence and spiritual abuse.

Obviously, we in Europe experience and shape reality differently in the respective culturally shaped contexts, i.e. in non-simultaneity and decentralisation. At the level of the world church, clarity and transparency are needed to communicate diversity and unity anew. In which places in which synodal structures deliberations and decisions are to be made in the future needs to be rediscovered. How is diversity recognised as richness, where do opposites destroy unity? Who decides in this regard and in what way? In the pastoral spaces of Europe and around the world, questions for the future arise with great urgency: participatory community leadership structures; new missionary ministries and offices; celebrations of blessing for people in special life situations - and many more challenges. We have learned that in very many countries exactly the same topics as in Germany are being considered with high urgency.

This also applies to the role of theology. All the material and content-related topics of the synodal process cannot be adequately discussed without reference to scientific theology. There are standards in university education worldwide which also apply to synodal processes. Further efforts are needed to strengthen the international exchange of theologies, also with regard to their methodology. Without exegetical knowledge and without insights into the hermeneutics of interpreting historical documents, we can no longer find convergences. Church history proves this: An ecclesiastical teaching without adequate theological justification will not find reception in the long run.

Synodal processes will only continue with regard to the topics addressed if not only the internal circle of people close to the church gathers and talks to each other. There is a need for external prophecy - the intuitive view of the reality of people who do not move daily in the spaces of the church institution, belong to it and are obliged to be loyal to it.

In Prague we were able to experience that synodal processes are not simply over. We need more time together and we need growing trust in each other. We need permanent synodal structures and international - also European - networks. Living synodality means meeting often and giving each other space. The Synodal Assembly from 9-11 March 2023 in Frankfurt will serve this purpose, as will the World Synod in Rome in October 2023 and 2024. We want to and must continue to walk the Synodal Path together.

The members of the delegation from Germany:

Bishop Dr Georg Bätzing, Dr Irme Stetter-Karp, Prof. Dr Thomas Söding, Dr Beate Gilles, Kerstin Fuchs, Sr Dr Katharina Ganz OSF, Lisa Holzer, Hendrik Johannemann, Bishop Dr Peter Kohlgraf, Prof. Dr Charlotte Kreuter-Kirchhof, Br Andreas Murk OFMConv, Dr Ralph Poirel, Prof. Dr Johanna Rahner, Prof. Dr Dorothea Sattler.

See Cabal of Modernists controlling the Synodal Path in Germany