Stealth priestess becomes Protestant pastor

The former Catholic pastoral assistant, Raphaela Holzinger from a parish in Schweinfurt has started her new job as a Protestant pastor in Bad Staffelstein. She had problems with the Catholic Church and therefore converted.

1 March was a historic day for Raphaela Holzinger, the first day in her new job: she started as a Protestant pastor in Bad Staffelstein. Before that, she was a pastoral assistant and pastoral worker for the Catholic Church in Schweinfurt for many years. That the now 50-year-old would one day change churches - she probably would not have thought that when she was young. But in the course of her professional life, she has repeatedly quarrelled with the Catholic Church, her employer.

Criticism of hierarchical structures in the Catholic Church

"As a pastoral worker, I am also a representative of the Catholic Church and stand for the values of the Catholic Church, and that just didn't fit for me any more," Holzinger tells BR24. She is concerned, for example, with the hierarchical structures in the Catholic Church, which not only hindered her as a woman - but also the parishes and the way of living the faith.

Holzinger wants to deal normally with divorced people

"I can no longer stand behind it as a person. For me, God is a loving God, not a punishing God. I don't want to represent that," Holzinger continued. "Church law says, for example, how I should deal with divorced or remarried people. For me, it is important to be there for couples - even if a marriage has failed before," she says. She can now do that in the Protestant church.

Raised Catholic, religion has always played a role

Raphaela Holzinger grew up in a Catholic family in Lower Bavaria. For her, church, faith and God are part of life. After graduating from high school, the native of Lower Bavaria moved to Eichstätt to study primary school teaching with Catholic religion as her main subject. In her flat-sharing community, a flatmate - now a good friend - convinced her to major in theology as well.

Doubting the Catholic Church as a pastoral assistant

After her studies, the 50-year-old came to the diocese of Würzburg and finally to Schweinfurt. In the course of her professional life in the Catholic Church, however, she began to have doubts. Doubts - about the way women are treated, about the way power is handled. Simply: doubts about whether this is still her church. "Then I realised that I had reached my limits. I have to change something, I want to change something. I can't and don't want to represent that to the outside world any more. This is no longer me if I continue to do this," Holzinger said.

Change to the Protestant Church planned

It is working in her. She asks herself how she should continue. She loves her job, but she questions her employer. Eventually, the idea of switching to the Protestant Church matured. An evangelical colleague gave her the idea.

Many tests and conversations before converting

However, it is extremely rare for someone to change religion, according to the Protestant Church when asked by BR24. About three to five times a year. And before such a conversion, several talks are held. Among other things, the theological background is reviewed and checked. Raphaela Holzinger got a "go" after the talks and tests. The Protestant Church in Bavaria hires Raphaela Holzinger as a pastor.

Difficult transitional period for Raphaela Holzinger

"There was already a great sense of relief. For me, this time when I had already applied to the Protestant Church - but was still working for the Catholic Church at the same time - was a time when it almost tore me apart inside," she describes her feelings. "After all, I wasn't allowed to say anything to the outside world - and I didn't know how the whole thing would go on."

First challenge as a pastor: baptising children

Raphaela Holzinger has been a Protestant pastor in Bad Staffelstein since 1 March. She already knows the first challenge: baptisms are coming up soon. Absolutely new territory for Raphaela Holzinger. But, as she says, it is a wonderful task.

Source

Cathcon:  At least she is honest; if you believe as she does, you go Protestant and not stay in the Catholic Church and attempt to Protestantize the Church.