In a pioneering move, the Diocese of Osnabrück in Germany has become the first Catholic diocese to release official guidelines on the concept of Eucharistic hospitality. The diocese recently published a comprehensive booklet outlining the conditions under which all Christians within the diocese can participate in a Catholic Eucharist or Protestant communion celebration during ecumenically Read more
Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Bishop Franz-Josef Bode(pictured) of Osnabrueck, Germany, who has been under pressure due to his handling of clerical sexual abuse in his diocese. In a personal statement, Bode said that his decision to resign had “matured in me in recent months,” and he hoped that his departure would have Read more
The shortest definition of religion is “interruption,” says Bishop Georg Bätzing (pictured). Some forms of continuity people seek from religion are “frankly suspect,” the president of the German Catholic Bishops’ Conference asserts. Bätzing made the comments during the bishops’ plenary assembly in a live-streamed Mass on Tuesday. In his homily he said “all too surely Read more
Cardinal Reinhard Marx says Catholic priests can conduct blessing ceremonies for same-sex couples. Marx is the president of the German Catholic Bishops’ Conference. Marx says church leaders in the field of pastoral care work and pastoral care should consider the situation of the individual. This means they must “try harder to accompany them in their Read more