Many critics believe that only tolerance and gender equality could stop the wave of people leaving the Catholic Church. A new basic document on sexual ethics should be a building block at the synodal assembly. But the bishop’s representatives block this.
At the beginning of the fourth synodal assembly of the Catholic Church in Germany, the representatives of the bishops rejected a jointly drafted basic document on sexual ethics and thus blocked its resolution. This was announced by the event management of the so-called synodal path. The meeting was then interrupted for separate consultations between those involved and was only continued on Friday as planned in the plenary session.
Originally launched as a reaction to church abuse scandals, the synodal path strives for fundamental reforms of the Catholic Church, including with a view to the priesthood and the participation of lay people. Representatives of the clergy and Catholic lay organizations work together in the discussion format to develop a new theological understanding that is intended to promote reforms in the church.
In view of the dwindling membership and the ongoing crisis of confidence, the synodal path is seen by proponents as an important pillar of an inner-church strategy for renewal. However, it is controversial within the church, and the representatives of the German Bishops’ Conference are divided in their attitude towards the reform ideas. The Vatican, too, recently clearly put the German efforts for changes in their place. In July, Rome warned of a threat to the unity of the worldwide church.
The rejected basic text is a theological paper that argues extensively in favor of a more open attitude of the church towards different forms of sexuality and partnership and a recognition of diverse gender identities is promoted. At one point it says that “the individual self-understanding of the gender identity of every human being” is “to be respected as an inviolable part of his or her unique image of God”.
The Synodal Assembly is made up of representatives of the Bishops’ Conference and representatives of Catholic lay organizations, most of which are united in the Central Committee of German Catholics (ZdK). Resolutions are passed with a two-thirds majority, whereby a two-thirds majority of the bishop’s representatives involved must always be present at the same time.
According to the diocese of Aachen, the bishops lost three votes in the end, while the synodal assembly voted in favor of the text with a total of 83 percent. Aachen’s bishop Helmut, who belongs to the reformers’ camp in the bishops’ conference, sharply criticized his counterparts. “We do not live in the 19th or 20th century, but in the 21st century – we live in a plural, secular and liberal society,” explained the bishop.
He was now “at a point” where he didn’t know how to “confront people,” he said on Thursday evening. He also referred to “all the disappointments” in “all dioceses”. He didn’t know how he could still promote “that our church is led by God,” he added.
The Catholic LGBT Committee expressed its deep disappointment and questioned the future of the entire synodal path. In a statement published on Friday, it spoke of bishops “who obviously lack democratic and synodal competences”. Although they did not get involved in the joint drafting of the text in advance, they used the “power” to block reform proposals from committed creditors.
The ZdK, which plays the most important role in the assembly alongside the bishops’ conference, signaled at the beginning of further consultations on Friday that it was willing to continue the format despite the setback. The ZdK is going “this way on behalf of all believers who believe in the power of a renewing church,” explained President Irme Stetter-Karp. She added: “Stand firm and don’t flee – sometimes it’s difficult.”
