German Bishops' Queer Commissioner attacks Cardinal Müller

Queer Commissioner for a Church Oriented to People

Auxiliary Bishop Schepers Criticizes Cardinal Müller

German Cardinal Müller advocates for a course correction on the issue of homosexuals under a new pope. The German Bishops' Queer Commissioner disagrees: The church must turn to people.

The Queer Commissioner of the German Bishops' Conference (DBK), Ludger Schepers, distances himself from statements made by German Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Müller regarding homosexuals. "It is time for the Church to reflect on what is essential: the dignity of every individual human being and the love that transcends all boundaries," the auxiliary bishop of Essen told the Catholic News Agency (KNA) on Friday.

It is very regrettable that Müller is currently increasingly using the time of the See's vacancy to present his views on the Church and demand a tougher approach to homosexual people, said Schepers. The cardinal repeatedly speaks out with condemnations and a narrow perspective. Instead, Schepers emphasized: "For me, the strength of the Church lies not in condemnation or rigid dogmas, but in turning to people – in love, compassion, and acceptance." The message of Jesus is a message of mercy, not exclusion.

Müller had stated in the Italian newspaper "La Stampa" that he expected the new pope to correct the course in the Catholic Church's treatment of homosexuals. Equating homosexual partnerships with marriage "completely contradicts the teachings of the Bible," said the 77-year-old. "We cannot accept gender ideology, which contradicts the teachings of the Church."

Against prejudice

Schepers also opposed a condemnation of so-called gender ideology: It is "not a monolithic concept that must be combated, but rather describes the diversity of human feelings and experiences. People love, feel, and want to be loved – regardless of their gender identity."

Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Müller advocates for a course correction towards minorities.

According to the auxiliary bishop, Cardinal Müller should rather ask himself "whether his words are truly in the spirit of Jesus, who placed love and acceptance at the center and did not discriminate against anyone." Pope Francis has shown how "the battered Church must turn to people: honestly, mercifully, approachably, and authentically. Even if Pope Francis didn't always answer all the questions posed so clearly, his willingness to address people's concerns and needs was exemplary."

It is important that the Church orient itself towards this example and see itself as a community that reaches out to people, Schepers said. "I wish the same for the next Pope, in order to strengthen the trust of the faithful and pave the way to a hopeful future. Hopefully, the chapter of Francis in Church history is not yet closed, as Cardinal Müller sees it."

The English word "queer" refers to people who are not heterosexual or whose gender identity does not conform to societal role models. Among them, people with a same-sex orientation are probably the largest group.

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