The Catholic Church must move towards collective decision-making, and “the time of lonely decisions in the Catholic Church is over” according to Synod advisor Thomas Söding. In an interview with Vatican News on Saturday, Söding stressed the importance of unity. “For us, deliberation and decision-making belong together. For us, commonality in decision-making is also part Read more
ZdK (Central Committee of German Catholics) president Irme Stetter-Karp described the Sept 2-4 discussions with members of the Roman Curia as “fruitful.” “There was a remarkable willingness to listen and also question our own view of our counterpart,” she told the German Catholic news agency KNA Sept 5. “I found it fruitful, even where it Read more
The Vatican’s liturgy czar has intervened to stop the German Synodal Way’s resolution calling for laypeople to baptise and preach homilies during Mass in Germany. In a letter to the German Bishops’ Conference president dated March 29, Cardinal Arthur Roche (pictured) said neither was possible — despite at least one German diocese already announcing both Read more
Participants in Germany’s “synodal way” will vote next month on a controversial proposal. If passed, the proposal would create a powerful permanent “synodal council” to oversee the local Church. Fourteen papers will be put to a vote at the synodal way’s fourth plenary assembly next week. One, “Sustainable strengthening of Synodality: A Synodal Council for Read more
German Catholic delegates for the Synodal Path have held their latest plenary assembly in five locations across the country. Rather than meet as a single group in Frankfurt, the 230 delegates met in smaller groups due to the coronavirus pandemic. About 40 people took part in the discussions in Berlin. The Synodal Path (or journey) Read more
German bishops are looking for ways to halt the massive exodus from the Church in Germany caused by the clerical abuse crisis. The bishops’ conference launched a two-year “synodal procedure” for church reform last weekend, on the first Sunday of Advent. Working together with the lay Central Committee of German Catholics (ZdK), special synodal candles Read more