Previously for a vote to pass, two-thirds of bishops were required to vote in favour of a decision; now, it requires only two-thirds of all members (bishops and laypeople) for a vote to pass.

Convened to navigate changes following a crisis within the Catholic Church, the synodal way witnessed discussions on various topics. These included women deacons, priestly celibacy and greater lay involvement in selecting bishops.

Among the Synodal Way's most controversial proposals was the creation of a synodal committee to ensure that resolutions are enacted in German dioceses to prepare the way for a permanent body called the "synodal council" in 2026.

Conversely, Vatican officials deemed it a structure surpassing the German bishops' authority.

Despite objections, German Church leaders persist in advocating for this council. They assert it has features distinct from those critiqued by the Vatican.

However, disagreements persisted regarding the voting process, particularly concerning the bishops' role and influence within the committee.

Advocates for change cited a need to modify the rules following a resolution addressing the Church's approach to sexual ethics. This issue failed to garner the required two-thirds bishop majority.

Bishops can easily be outvoted

Notably, altering the voting regulations led to varied reactions. Some welcomed the adjustment, foreseeing increased efficiency and progress within the committee.

ZdK (Central Committee of German Catholics) leader Irme Stetter-Karp, who called for a change in the voting procedure after the synodal way ended in March, expressed her satisfaction after the two-thirds of Bishops rule was dropped.

"This committee, which I would like to respectfully call a real team, will be able to achieve a great deal for the future of the Church in Germany."

On the other hand, critics expressed concerns about the potential marginalisation of the bishops' authority. They claim it undermines their influence in decision-making.

Writing for the Catholic weekly newspaper Die Tagespost, the journalist Peter Winnemöller said: "A little basic arithmetic is enough to realise that with a maximum of 20 participating bishops, they can easily be outvoted even if all bishops disagree with a decision."

However, German bishops' conference Bishop Georg Bätzing sees the change as positive, commenting "The synodal committee has gained momentum. I am grateful that we have now entered a new phase" he said on 11 November.

"I am therefore happy to take up a phrase from the synod on synodality: Church on the move — we experienced this in Rome and also now in Essen."

Sources

The Pillar

CathNews New Zealand

The four bishops are Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki of Cologne and three bishops from Bavaria: Gregor Maria Hanke, OSB, of Eichstätt; Stefan Oster of Passau; and Rudolf Voderholzer of Regensburg.

The German Bishops' Conference issued a statement on June 20: "For a large majority of the diocesan bishops, it is important that the 15 decisions of the synodal assembly be implemented as soon as possible."

However, the statement continued that since a unanimous decision of the bishops is needed to provide financial and human resources, "and four bishops have declared that they will not agree to further financing of the Synodal Way," it is now necessary to find other ways of financing, according to a report by CNA Deutsch.

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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 the Catholic Church in Germany," will have its second reading at that time.

If the document passes its second reading, it will be formally adopted as a synodal way resolution.

The synodal way is a multi-year process where German bishops and lay people collectively discuss four topics: power; the priesthood; women in the Church; sexual morality.

In July the Vatican intervened in the discussions. It clarified that the synodal way has no power "to compel the bishops and the faithful to adopt new ways of governance and new approaches to doctrine and morals".

Commentators think the Vatican Secretariat of State's intervention was prompted by the synodal way's "synodal council" proposal.

Others think it was triggered by broader concerns that German dioceses would implement synodal way decisions before next year's synod on synodality in Rome.

Some German bishops have signed a document known as the Frankfurt Declaration. This promises to enact Germany's synodal way resolutions in their "dioceses and parishes, in schools and charitable institutions".

The push for a synodal council has generated a backlash in Germany. Cardinal Walter Kasper (pictured) is leading the criticism.

"Synods cannot be made institutionally permanent," he says.

"The tradition of the Church does not know a synodal church government. A synodical supreme council, such as is now taken into the prospect, has no support in all constitutional history. It would not be a renewal but an outrageous innovation."

Last year's first reading of the synodal council's draft text was endorsed by 138 votes in favour, 32 against and 9 abstentions (with a total of 212 delegates present). It was then passed to a working group for further consideration.

The revised text to be voted on next month calls for the creation of a "synodal committee". It would comprise 27 diocesan bishops and 27 members elected by the lay Central Committee of German Catholics (ZdK), with 10 members elected by both the bishops and the ZdK.

The committee would help create the synodal council, while making "fundamental decisions" on budgetary issues at a national level.

The synodal council's decisions would have "at least the same legal effect as the resolutions of the synodal assembly," says the revised text.

The proposed council would meet in public with two chairs drawn from the German bishops' conference and ZdK. It would also have a permanent secretariat and be "adequately staffed and financed".

At next month's meeting, five synodal way texts will face their first vote. Nine will be voted on for a second time, including papers on the "Magisterial reassessment of homosexuality," "Women in ministries and offices in the Church," and ending mandatory priestly celibacy.

Source

• The Pillar

The proposed council would be a powerful "advisory and decision-making body" consisting of both bishops and lay people.

If created, it would mark a radical change in the structure of the Catholic Church in Germany.

Advocates say the council would ensure Church hierarchy and laity shared responsibility for the Church's future at a time when German Catholics are leaving the Church in droves.

However, theologian Cardinal Walter Kasper says the proposal threatens to destroy the structure "that Christ wanted for his Church".

The idea of a permanent "advisory and decision-making body" will be discussed for the second time at the synodal way's next plenary session in September.

That is when the document "Sustainable Strengthening of Synodality: A Synodal Council for the Catholic Church in Germany" will have its second reading.

The first reading initially passed the notice of most observers. The proposal was endorsed by 138 votes in favour, 32 against and 9 abstentions. It was then passed to a working group for further consideration.

The text recommends the council should be "composed in a similar manner" to the synodal assembly (i.e. of bishops and lay people) and "should have a gender- and generation-appropriate composition.

"With the exception of the members of the German bishops' conference, the members of the synodal council are to be elected in free, equal and secret elections for a term of five years. The members of the synodal council have equal voting rights."

The synodal council would meet at least twice a year and be supported by a permanently staffed secretariat.

It would have the power to make "fundamental decisions on budgetary issues that are not decided at the level of the dioceses, as well as on pastoral planning and future perspectives of supra-diocesan significance".

It would also promote "the social, catechetical and missionary relations of the Catholic Church in Germany with the local churches throughout the world and with the Holy See".

In addition, the council would adopt resolutions "with a two-thirds majority of the members present, carried by at least two-thirds of the members of the German bishops' conference present, and on the motion of two-thirds of the female members of the synodal assembly present".

An intermediary body - the "synodal committee" - would lay the groundwork for creating the council while making "fundamental decisions" on budgetary issues at a national level.

The synodal committee would consist of 27 diocesan bishops, 27 members elected by the influential lay Central Committee of German Catholics (Zkd) and 10 members elected by the bishops and the Zkd.

The proposal for September's discussion also says the council's decisions would have "at least the same legal effect as the resolutions of the synodal assembly".

The council would meet in public and be chaired jointly by the chairman of the German bishops' conference and ZdK president.

Source

• Pillar