Nuncio's words on gender were a hurtful attack claims leading cleric in Germany.
Eterović spoke out against "gender ideology" in front of the Bishops
Pfeffer: The Nuncio's words on gender were a hurtful attack
At the beginning of the DBK general assembly, Nuncio Nikola Eterović spoke about creation - and sharply criticized an alleged "gender ideology" that had also gained a foothold in parts of the church. The Vicar General of Essen now clearly contradicts him.
Essen Vicar General Klaus Pfeffer criticized the speech of Apostolic Nuncio Nikola Eterović at the opening of the general assembly of the German Bishops' Conference (DBK) as a hurtful attack. The nuncio's words not only caused horror among people who feel deeply personally hurt because they once again have to feel excluded and defamed by a representative of the Catholic Church, Pfeffer wrote on Facebook on Tuesday. "The Nuncio also attacks all those who work in the church and society to ensure that all people - regardless of gender identity or orientation - are respected in their dignity, experience equal participation and are protected from any form of discrimination," said Pfeffer further.
The Vicar General objected to Eterović's warnings about an alleged "gender ideology". In doing so, the nuncio wants to “reject human scientific findings” and prevent all efforts “to think, speak and act within the Catholic Church in a differentiated, scientifically based and therefore in a new way”. Eterović had complained that the Biblical image of man had now been forgotten in some circles of the church, while a deviating, "sometimes even opposite, image of man and his nature" was gaining ground. “Anyone who so excessively accuses those who think differently of being ideologically suspicious is more likely to fall back on this suspicion,” says Pfeffer. It hurts him particularly in these days, when the depths of sexual abuse in the church are again stirring up many people, "when the Pope's representative in Germany has nothing else to say."
In full in his own words, from Father Pfeffer's Facebook page.
"The words of the Nuncio at the opening of the Bishops' Conference have caused horror - not only among people who personally feel deeply affected because they must once again feel excluded and defamed by a representative of the Catholic Church. The Nuncio also attacked all those in the Church and society who work to ensure that all people - regardless of gender identity or orientation - are respected in their dignity, experience equal participation and are protected from all forms of discrimination. In his greeting - in large parts a stringing together of long quotations from various papal texts - he repeatedly warns against "ideology" in order to reject human-scientific findings and to stop all efforts to think, speak and act within the Catholic Church in a differentiated, scientifically sound and thus also in a new way. Anyone who so exuberantly places dissenters under suspicion of ideology is more likely to fall under this suspicion himself. (Cathcon: that is a very nasty comment given the way traditionalists and conservatives are being treated in the Church). In these days when the abysses of sexual abuse in the Church are again stirring up many people - including me personally - it is particularly painful when the Pope's representative in Germany has nothing else to say."
The Apostolic Nuncio is invited to the opening session of the DBK General Assembly, but does not take part in further discussions. In his speech, published on Monday evening, Eterović referred to the biblical account of creation. The archbishop has been Nuncio in Germany since 2013. Most recently, he spoke about gender anthropology at the Aachen shrine pilgrimage in the summer and emphasized that people must respect their nature. This sermon had already met with criticism. The LGBT+ Catholic Committee said the sermon for queer people did not contain words of faith, hope and love.
Cathcon: As soon as anyone takes a conservative line in the Church, Pfeffer must speak!
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