Church is not hierarchically governed claims Bishop

Bamberg's former Bishop Schick: "Do not imprison the family of the Church for the crime of an individual member"

When individuals sin in the Church, this does not directly affect all other Catholics: Bamberg's Old Archbishop Ludwig Schick has called for the Church not to be held responsible for the misconduct of individuals.

The Archbishop Emeritus of Bamberg, Ludwig Schick, has called for the whole Church not to be held responsible for the failures of individuals. If unchristian actions are taken somewhere, they must be "uncovered, atoned for, eradicated and renewed", Schick said on Sunday at a service in Ludwigschorgast in the Upper Franconian district of Kulmbach, according to the manuscript. "But if in an ecclesial community there is sin, abuse, cover-up, deception and lying by certain persons, then this does not directly affect all other Catholics and communities in the Church."

It is also wrong to see the Church as a hierarchically governed institution, Schick explained. "The Church is each and every baptised person, that is, 2.3 billion people in the world who profess Jesus Christ and live from the spirit of the Gospel and work accordingly." This community means hope and confidence, commitment to the common good and goodness. It is worthwhile to live this "local church", to get involved in the parish and not to leave this community.

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