Cardinal Reinhard Marx has held talks with Pope Francis and Cardinal Marc Ouellet about the German bishops’ plans for a “binding synodal path.” Their meetings followed correspondence earlier this month in which Ouellet told Marx earlier the proposed synodal process could not begin without the pope’s approval. Ouellet included a four-page legal assessment of the Read more
A member of the International Theological Commission says she is no longer available to participate in the “binding synodal path” proposed by the German bishops’ conference. Marianne Schlosser, who is a professor of theology at the University of Vienna, says she is concerned about the path’s approach and methodology. She was invited to contribute to Read more
The Vatican says plans for a binding Church synod in Germany are “not ecclesiologically valid.” However, Cardinal Reinhard Marx is defending the “synodal procedure” the German bishops have initiated with the Central Committee of German lay Catholics, against Rome’s attempts to question its canonical legality. He says the German bishops have the right to debate Read more
Pope Francis has ordered Vatican officials to close a widening budget deficit at the Holy See. They have to stop poorly managed spending and investments from undermining the operations of the Catholic Church’s global headquarters. The forthcoming financial statements will be the Vatican’s first to completely follow international public sector accounting standards. The Holy See’s Read more
Cardinal Reinhard Marx of Munich, visited La Croix for an interview. A member of Pope Francis’ advisory council of cardinals, he reflects on the crisis that the Church is currently experiencing. How to do you see the crisis that the Catholic Church is experiencing today? Since Vatican II, we have asked ourselves how the Church Read more
Your Eminence, I noted with interest your recent announcement of a “binding synodal process” during which the Church in Germany will discuss the celibacy of the Latin-rite Catholic priesthood, the Church’s sexual ethic and clericalism, these being “issues” put on the table by the crisis of clerical sexual abuse. Perhaps the following questions will help Read more
Catholic women from Münster in Germany are calling for women to go on strike. “We women want to see genuine change in our Church. We want to contribute and have our say. We want women and men, on equal footing, to follow their calling in harmony and move forward in the same direction: that of Read more
Cardinal Reinhard Marx says the Catholic Church in Germany is embarking on a “binding synodal process” to tackle three key issues that arose from the clerical abuse crisis. These include priestly celibacy, the Church’s teaching on sexual morality and a reduction of clerical power. Marx, who is the president of the German bishops’ conference, says Read more
The media’s not responsible for the damage the abuse scandal has caused the church. Church leadership is responsible for this, says German Cardinal Reinhard Marx. Speaking at a news conference, Marx said the Church needs “more open and clear dialogue, accountability and a willingness to see abuse survivors and critics who push for remedy and Read more
Fostering unity in Europe is something “the Church must never cease working at or doing something for,” Cardinal Reinhard Marx says. “The Church has always viewed the unity of Europe positively, even today. “Nationalism is one of the biggest causes of war,” adds Marx, who is the President of the German Bishops’ Conference. During a Read more