"Breaking down clerical circles"

Rieth advises dioceses on lay participation in Diocesan leadership

The Vicar General's Plenipotentiary in the Diocese of Mainz, Stephanie Rieth, advises other dioceses to give lay people equal participation in Diocesan leadership. "We need ordained as well as non-ordained people to be given responsibility," Rieth said.

The joint responsibility of ordained and non-ordained persons in the Diocesan leadership is necessary "to restore credibility and break clerical circles", Rieth said, according to a statement of the Diocese of Mainz published on Wednesday.

Putting responsibility on many shoulders

"We need ordained as well as non-ordained people to be given responsibility," Rieth stressed at a presentation of the Mainz concept in Speyer.

Rieth has been the authorised representative of Vicar General, Udo Markus Bentz since April 2022. According to the diocese, the "overall responsibility of the Vicar General" is thus shared by two persons.

With regard to the abuse investigation, the 48-year-old Director of the ordinariate and pastoral officer said that she was basically responsible for talks with the accused. But that does not mean that Bentz, who is Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop, "shirks responsibility for this topic". Bentz is "still closely involved", says Rieth. The principle serves to "no longer offer offenders a supposed inner-clerical shelter".

Initial responsibilities agreed in various subject areas

Rieth said she and Bentz had agreed on initial responsibilities in various areas. For Rieth, this is, for example, the issue of abuse. Decisions are made jointly and according to the four-eyes principle. "If one of us has to make a decision of great significance, we have to make sure that the other party can support this decision.

He said that this always requires co-ordination. "But it is worth it, because no one decides alone any more, and in the end the decision can really be the responsibility of both," said Rieth.

The proxy is not a "women's office", Rieth emphasised. It is a "coincidence" that she holds this office as a woman, but it is also an opportunity for women to be involved in leadership.

Source

Cathcon: This is all part of the instrumentalisation of the sexual abuse scandal by the Synodalists.  Rome has remained silent on her appointment to this day.