Politico-modernist machine of German lay Catholics meets in Paderborn, Germany. Elections!

Paderborn: New elections for German lay people - who is running for election

The Central Committee of German Catholics represents the concerns of Catholic lay people in Germany.

The Central Committee of German Catholics is meeting in East Westphalia. What the lay representatives are discussing and who is running for election.

The Central Committee of German Catholics (ZdK) is meeting in Paderborn in the next few days (until Saturday) for its spring plenary assembly. Similar to the German Bishops' Conference (DBK), the highest lay body meets twice a year. On the one hand, substantive discussions are on the agenda. The lay representatives will address the current situation of the Church following the election of Pope Leo XIV. Other topics include addressing sexual violence, the publication of the encyclical "Laudato si" ten years ago, and the growing shortage of skilled workers. The Central Committee expects to address these agenda items, among others, the spokesperson for the Advisory Council for Those Affected by the German Bishops' Conference (DBK), Patrick Bauer, Archbishop of Paderborn Udo Markus Bentz, and former Federal Minister Andreas Nahles (SPD).

Organizational Renewal of the Lay Representation

The Central Committee is also addressing organizational issues. At the last fall plenary meeting in November 2024, the lay representatives adopted a new mission statement after a two-year process. Similarly, the Central Committee intends to develop a new statute and new rules of procedure. To this end, it is continuing its deliberations in Paderborn. For example, the new statute should include an incompatibility clause that allows for the exclusion of members with extremist positions.

Last but not least, the lay representatives must re-elect the so-called individual members of the committee after a four-year term of office. In total, the Central Committee consists of approximately 230 members. According to the current statute of 2022, these members come to office in different ways. The diocesan councils of all German dioceses, the Catholic Council of the Catholic Military Bishop for the German Armed Forces, and the Federal Pastoral Council of Catholics of Other Native Languages ​​each elect three delegates. Catholic associations send 52, Catholic professional associations 37, and religious communities eight. In addition, the members of the Presidium and the spokespersons for the committee's subject areas are elected, unless they have been delegated through other channels.

Election of Individuals

In addition to these representatives, the ZdK General Assembly can elect up to 45 additional individuals. Committee members may propose potential candidates up to six weeks before the General Assembly. The ZdK Main Committee draws up a list of candidates based on these proposals, which it can supplement with its own suggestions.

According to the ZdK, approximately 90 people are applying for seats on the Central Committee. Therefore, only half of the candidates will be elected to the lay representation. These are intended to represent "public and church life," as stated in the statute. Accordingly, representatives from theology, religious life, politics, business, science, journalism, and culture are running for election. ZdK President Irme Stetter-Karp and executive committee members Claudia Nothelle and Thomas Söding also intend to rejoin the committee via this list.

Large number of candidates from the CDU/CSU

Although there have been repeated tensions between the ZdK and the CDU/CSU in recent months, the number of Christian Democratic candidates is comparatively high. More than ten individuals from sister parties are seeking to rejoin the committee or join for the first time. These include former Minister of State for Culture Monika Grütters and Schleswig-Holstein Minister-President Daniel Günther. The number of representatives from other parties such as Alliance 90/The Greens, SPD, and Free Voters is significantly lower.

The number of young applicants, however, is manageable: Among those running are Rebecca Lögers da Silva (27), a candidate for the position of Federal Curator of the German Scout Association St. George, and Max Lucks (28), a Green Party member of the Bundestag.

From the Diocese of Münster, for example, Mara Klein, a research associate at the Catholic Theological Faculty of the University of Münster, Pastor Peter Kossen of Lengerich, theology professor Dorothea Sattler, and Münster's honorary mayor Angela Stähler (CDU) are seeking to join the ZdK.

Source

Cathcon: Self-electing and self-selecting pseudo-clerical elite with, as we can see here, no reference to Christ. Politicisation and bureaucratisation of the synodal church.