Synod as a career path. No reference to God and one reference to Jesus by Federation of German Catholic Youth
Young people don't just listen, they speak up: BDKJ draws interim conclusions on the youth anniversary in Rome
"It's not about patience, but about justice." With clear words and strong demands, young people at the "Women in the Church" Youth Hearing on July 30th in Rome made clear what they expect from a credible and sustainable church.
As part of the Holy Year and the youth anniversary, the Federation of German Catholic Youth (BDKJ) invited people to the Youth Hearing, and around 50 young people accepted the invitation. The focus of the event was the role of women in the Catholic Church: their voices, their experiences, and above all, their demands for structural reforms for greater gender equality in the Catholic Church.
BDKJ Federal Chairwoman Daniela Hottenbacher emphasized: "Those in charge in the church must listen to young people, especially young women, and act accordingly. The demand for equal rights and the participation of women in leadership positions and ministries in our church is not a marginal note, but a core issue for young Christians, not only in Germany, but worldwide. A church with a future can no longer ignore this issue."
At the BDKJ Youth Hearing, Gudrun Sailer, Vatican journalist and founding member of the "Women in the Vatican" association, and Sister Nathalie Beqcuart, Undersecretary of the Synod of Bishops and member of the Dicastery for Communication, described their experiences as women in the Vatican. Pauline Erdmann, BDKJ Diocesan Chairwoman in Munich and Freising, and BDKJ Federal Chairwoman Daniela Hottenbacher brought the perspectives of youth association members from Germany into the discussion. The young people present were also able to contribute, including by using green and red cards to express their agreement or disagreement with statements made on the podium.
"We believe the Youth Hearing is an important part of the Youth Jubilee program. It creates an opportunity for debate and exchange. This, in addition to the spiritual and tourism program, is important for young people during these days: They want to actively shape the church. They have ideas and positions, and it's worth actively involving them," Daniela Hottenbacher explained the significance of the event for the BDKJ.
The discussion also made it clear: The church loses great potential when it excludes more than half of its members from leadership because of their gender. When all genders participate, better results are achieved, which is particularly evident in peace processes. "Pope Leo repeatedly emphasizes how important it is for us as Christians to work for peace in the world. True peace cannot arise without justice. Therefore, we as a church should lead by example and recognize the signs of the times," emphasizes Daniela Hottenbacher.
An interim conclusion on the Youth Jubilee
"The Youth Jubilee shows: The faith of young people is vibrant, but not naive. They believe in the message of Jesus and want to live it in their daily lives. They question structures that exclude, discriminate, and prevent diversity and therefore need to be reformed," Daniela Hottenbacher summarizes her days in Rome. "For us, as the BDKJ, it is important to continually open spaces for critical discussions. We want to encourage young people to continue to engage in dialogue about their faith, about reforms, about participation and justice for all genders, and all the issues that concern us as human beings. Not only in Rome, but also in our everyday lives in Germany."
A BDKJ press release
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