German laity become more and more demanding. Revolution now!

ZdK sees European perspectives along the Synodal Way

Anger, confidence, energy: the attitude of the ZdK members to the progress of the Synodal Path in Germany is reflected in all three terms. The review and outlook on Friday afternoon made it clear that what has been achieved in five Synodal Assemblies is not enough for many. They expect clear reforms from the German bishops in their respective dioceses. The message to the World Synod, which will take place in Rome in autumn, is to make the Church fit for the future - with the help of Catholic civil society. 

"We are currently experiencing a Church that is dominated on several levels by men who cement their power, refuse developments and further deepen the rifts between the Church and the world," said ZdK President Dr Irme Stetter-Karp already in the morning. In an exchange with Helena Jeppesen-Spuhler from Switzerland, she deepened this thought in the afternoon under the moderation of ZdK Vice President Prof. Claudia Nothelle. "Clerical exercise of power must come to an end. We need a turn towards a synodal Church, and we need it worldwide. In Europe, but also on other continents, Catholics in Germany have network partnerships. It is important that Rome realises that we are not following a special German path. We are on the move together with many in Europe and worldwide."

"I thank the ZdK for its great commitment to church reform," said Jeppesen-Spuhler from the Swiss relief organisation Fastenaktion. She - like Irme Stetter-Karp and the Vice-President of the ZdK, Prof. Thomas Söding - had participated in the European Synod in Prague. "It is not only the Church in Switzerland that has learned and benefited enormously from the Synodal Way. Through the translation of the documents, it was possible to follow what the Synodal Way was about in many parts of the universal Church. The worldwide reform process in the Catholic Church can no longer be stopped. The Synodal Way of the Church in Germany is part of this process and has partly taken on a pioneering role. It is good that we continue to work together in a European and worldwide network, because the continental reports of the synodal assemblies have shown us that we have common concerns worldwide. We should continue to work on this together with our companions from all continents.

Prof. Thomas Söding, Vice-President of the ZdK, gave hope for the implementation of the synodal resolutions. There is no way around change: "The Synodal Path is the way to the future: more togetherness in consultations and decisions, new role models for priests, realisation of women's rights, overcoming the condemnation and exclusion of people because of their sexual identity. Our issues are important for the whole church." The crucial thing now, he said, is to resolve resistance in the Vatican through communication.  "There the narrative seems to solidify that Synodality is good, but the German way to Synodality is dangerous and wrong." The German Church can and must show that it is a Church in Europe "and wants to move change with millions of Christians on our continent. We are not a church of the special way," said Söding, who recently had the opportunity to hold talks in various Vatican dicasteries and to participate in an international conference on Synodality at the Pontifical Gregorian University.

The ensuing debate of the ZdK Plenary Assembly on Friday afternoon made it clear that after the end of the 5th Synodal Assembly and before the work in the Synodal Committee begins in November, the tasks to be solved are clearly visible. Participants reported about resistance in dioceses in implementing decisions, others about successful first steps. It was also noted that after more than three years, the Synodal Way must also reach the breadth of the congregations and that this would require great efforts. Jeppesen-Spuhler from Switzerland gave food for thought by pointing out that the financial decision-making power in Switzerland does not lie with the Bishops, but largely with the lay bodies. This makes communication between Bishops and laity more natural and necessary in a good sense. Thomas Söding had previously asked in his statement: "Why has it not long been standard practice that those who pay the church tax decide how it is used?"

ZdK press release 5 May 2023