Head of German Catholic Youth calling for open rebellion if the Synodalists don't get their way.

Federation of German Catholic Youth and youth associations network at the Bishop's Synod

Podschun on the World Synod: Rome initiated my thought process

A delegation from the BDKJ traveled to Rome for the World Synod. There they met bishops, youth associations and other actors in the shadow of the Vatican. In the interview, BDKJ chairman Gregor Podschun takes stock. In addition to pithy demands, the head of the association is also self-critical.

"No synodality without young people!" Youth associations from Germany (D), Austria (A), Switzerland (CH) and South Tyrol (S) have taken up the cause. So their representatives met last weekend in Rome in the “DACHS” building. The program included meetings with synods, aid organizations and reform groups from all over the world. In the katholisch.de interview, the federal chairman of the Association of German Catholic Youth (BDKJ), Gregor Podschun, takes stock.

Question: Mr. Podschun, you have met German synodalists in Rome in the past few days. What do they say about the synod?

Podschun: Not so much of direct discussions. The Pope has imposed an information blackout, and the German-speaking synod participants are largely adhering to it. But they told us about their experiences in the synod hall. I heard that the procedure has changed compared to other synods. The small groups have made it more communicative. I have also heard that Germany is not alone with its reform issues - the concerns resonate in the universal church. By the way, we also had this experience with the partners we met here as BDKJ. The bishops also reported to us that they noticed that young people were missing from the Synod hall. And this despite the fact that the Youth Synod had decided that young people should be involved in such processes.

Question: It's all very atmospheric. Have you also heard about topics from the auditorium?

Podschun: The question in the auditorium focuses on the topic of “synodality”. This refers more to the constitution of a Synod of Bishops and the Church. However, the admission of laypeople raises questions about what structures should look like in the future and how issues in the global church will be discussed and decided differently. But I assume that the Pope will not allow his right to make decisions to be taken away from him. In the auditorium it is clear that, in addition to conservative forces, there are people around the world who want to change the way in which advice is given in the church and thus raise the question of power. The Synod participants made it clear that this was being discussed very controversially in the auditorium.

Question: Have the bishops also revealed their colours to you and stated their own positions?

Podschun: The bishops and synod participants did not deny that there are different attitudes among them. They didn't want to appear to us as a unit, but instead expressed their differences directly. It has already become clear who represents which position in the synod hall. It has not become clear to what extent the synodal principle of listening actually changes or at least questions the attitude of the bishops and synod participants. In any case, I think it's silly that a conservative bishop fundamentally changes his opinion just because someone else tells him something. But I also have to emphasize that there are different attitudes in our youth associations. In such cases we have also been very active in the synod in recent days.

Question: Do you have an example?

Podschun: We have people who say that they find the methodology of synodality exciting in order to reach a consensus. However, as associations that are organized very democratically, we have the principle of majority decision-making, taking minorities into account. In my opinion, there are issues where the consensus method cannot work: abuse, violence, discrimination. For example, you can't get closer to each other on the issue of discrimination and just abolish a little bit of discrimination. I think this is where the method of synodality reaches its limits. We got into a dispute about these boundaries. That was valuable and fruitful.

Question: You mentioned abuse, violence and discrimination in the church. Do these topics play a role in the auditorium?

Podschun: These topics probably play a peripheral role. But they are not the focus. This is important to note because there are bishops in Germany who, with regard to the results of the Synodal Way, point to the World Synod and say that they are waiting to see what happens there. This reference does not hold up because these topics are not discussed at all. This is a calculation by conservative bishops. The Synodal Way has made clear decisions and I expect that they will be implemented in Germany.

Question: In addition to the bishops, you also met other actors in Rome. What do you remember as particularly positive about it?

Podschun: What is very positive is that there are so many people in Rome who are not part of the Synod, but who have some form of interest in helping to shape the church. Those affected by sexual violence, women's associations, aid organizations and Frére Alois from Taizé. The “Spirit unbounded” conference gave queer people in particular international opportunities to speak, and representatives from “Out in Church” were also in the city. I find it very interesting that these people are committed to their church despite the suffering and violence the church has caused. I believe the presence of these people shows that reform concerns are not about division, but that many have an interest in how this church develops - that's why we as BDKJ were here.

Question: You could also accuse them of supporting the system they want to change.

Podschun: Yes, I asked myself that question too. It is precisely at this point that Synodality reaches its limits - and that is what the hierarchy wants. A church that wants to maintain its power creates a system of deliberation that maintains that power. In conversations with Synod members, I have not noticed any signs that this system of power will be broken up at the World Synod. The fact that a few laypeople are allowed into the deliberations does not seriously endanger this system of power. At the same time, I learned that this form of advice does something to people.

Question: What do you mean?

Podschun: When the bishops go back to their dioceses, they also want to live a form of Synodality there. Many people recognize that a diocese can be run in a way other than authoritarian from above. I believe that something is moving on a small scale. At the same time, we don't have time to wait forever for something small to change. Massive systemic changes are needed now. Especially in response to the cases of abuse!

Question: What has irritated you in Rome over the past few days?

Podschun: What irritated me are people who, despite abuse and discrimination, still say that everything is going well in the Church and that it is well structured. I cannot understand the idea that the hierarchical church system was instituted by God and therefore must be preserved. Scientific findings also contradict this idea. I have met bishops and lay people who are convinced that a democratic church is unthinkable. That really irritates me. Especially since this isn't entirely theologically clean either: the Pope doesn't have any special papal wisdom. If we want to get any closer to the truth of God, then we have to combine several voices. Nobody can decide this alone.

Question: You said before the start of the World Synod that you had few expectations of the Synod. Did this attitude change after your days in Rome?

Podschun: The days triggered a thought process for me personally. There are many people from all parts of the world who are looking forward to this Synod. I have to ask myself whether my pessimistic view is fundamentally correct. I take away that the new type of advice must be seen as progress. At the same time, my hopes remain low that systemic changes will come about as a result of this world synod.

Question: You mentioned the universal Church experience in Rome. Are you internationally connected enough as BDKJ?

Podschun: We are really well networked in the German-speaking countries. But the days have also shown that we need to network better internationally. That is why we will discuss between the two Synods how we can improve this for the second Assembly in October 2024. We want to hear even more voices of the youth worldwide and enter into discourse.

Question: What is your wish until the end of the World Synod 2024?

Podschun: I wish for public results. Only in this way can there be a response from the people of God. I expect from those who know that they will participate in the Synod again in a year's time, that they actively enter into discussion in their countries. With regard to Germany, I expect the bishops to actively take the decisions of the Synodal Way to Rome and that - if Rome stops the decisions of the Synodal Way - there will be an idea for the further procedure.

Question: What would be a solution?

Podschun: Implement things and don't ask questions! Simply ordain people as priests, simply formalise and allow blessings. Further measures need to be discussed. I see not only the bishops but also the ZdK as being responsible. Even they have not yet come up with answers to a Roman stop sign.

Source

Cathcon:  Gregor has an ordained twin brother, Lukas  At 30, they are now both a bit old to be classified as Catholic youth.   Judging by the little excerpt below his brother may not be too happy with the Synodalist attempts to destroy the priesthood by open rebellion and by ordaining all and everyone.

Be perfectly attuned to the praise of the angels and saints

Dear Parish members in the Pastoral Space,

In the coming weeks our Faith will be reoriented towards heavenly glory.

(Cathcon: Orientation towards the world away from heavenly glory is the Synodalist programme)

 The numerous angel and saint festivals of autumn culminate at the beginning of November and are a reminder that it is the task of all of us to strive for holiness, as the Lord asks us at the end of the Sermon on the Mount: “Be ye therefore perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect !” (Matt. 5:48).

The Father obviously demands a great deal from us children of God in order to participate in the liturgy of heavenly glory.

That's a good thing! It proves that God expects something from us, that he loves us with demanding love and desires a corresponding response. God's love is a real and challenging fatherly love through which God's children grow in good and are able to resist evil. It is

a love that trusts those it loves.

At the same time, it is also a love that not only demands perfection and holiness from us, but also provides us with various means to realize them. This is how the Lord teaches us how to pray in the course of his Sermon on the Mount. Perfection and holiness are desired. They are the fruit of God's grace and not something we can achieve through our own efforts alone. Through the sacraments and above all the Holy Eucharist, God then takes a physical part in our lives and, conversely, gives us a share in his divine reality so that we can already join in the praise of the heavenly liturgy of the angels and saints.

Yours, Lucas Podschun,

Chaplain in the Pastoral Space