The rebuke from Rome was not even half a day old when the leaders of German Catholicism fell back into their unfortunate old patterns. After the Vatican banned far-reaching reforms on the German “Synodal Path” via an online declaration on Thursday, the President of the Central Committee of German Catholics (ZdK) and the Chairman of the German Bishops’ Conference (DBK) published a reply.
It begins with the fact that both “welcome” the Vatican text, because legally effective reforms were never in mind anyway. She ends by saying that she “regrets” the move and that she is “irritated”: “It does not show good communication style within the church if declarations that are not signed by name are published.”
What now? Do you welcome the text or are you irritated by it? Did the Vatican really only oppose something on Thursday that nobody in Germany is striving for anyway? Or are courageous reformers wrestling with styleless blockers?
It was precisely this maneuvering that characterized the “Synodal Path” from the start. Even the name is camouflage, shimmering between authorized “synod” and fluffy brainstorming, and its organizers DBK and ZdK systematically send mixed signals. Publicly, they are always considering new liberalizations (ZdK President Irme Stetter-Karp recently even called for a “comprehensive” abortion offer). And if trouble threatens, you are loyal to Rome.
This tactic is not only disrespectful to the Pope, but also to the faithful.
Bishops and lay representatives should have the courage to reveal the opportunities and limitations of the “synodal path”. Only then will Rome understand that the Germans really don’t want a split. And the public is getting used to the fact that a more modern appearance of the church or more participation are realistic, but not the abolition of celibacy or the ordination of women. That would be good communication.
