The Bishops’ Conference of the Nordic Countries recently wrote an open letter to the German Bishops’ Conference to voice concerns over the Synodal Path now underway in Germany. They ‘“let rip” at the Germans. The Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Norway and Iceland Church leaders’ letter is an excellent example of one group of bishops seeing the Read more
Scandinavia’s Catholic bishops and church leaders (pictured) have let their German confreres know they don’t think much of the German Synodal Way. In their March 9 letter to the German bishops’ conference, the Nordic bishops said they appreciated that there was a “palpable need for change” in Germany. However, the issues addressed were not a Read more
Germany’s Synodal Path should be a model for reforming the Church globally, according to a leading outside observer. Théo Péporté is past-president of the Council of Christian Churches in Luxembourg and former vice-president of SIGNIS (the World Catholic Association for Communications). Péporté was one of 18 international observers who attended the 12-day Synodal Way procedure, Read more
The German “Synodal Way,” conference has approved a draft document that appears to be at odds with Catholic teaching on sexual morality. Called “Living in Successful Relationships – Living Love in Sexuality and Partnership,” Vatican News says the draft document clearly rejects “conversion therapies for homosexuals”, pleads on behalf of “homosexual partnerships and remarried divorcees Read more
German Catholic bishops and lay leaders called for their church to bless same-sex relationships, challenging a Vatican ban on the practice. The move increased pressure on Pope Francis to respond to the Germans’ progressive drive, which conservatives have warned could split the worldwide church. At a meeting in Frankfurt on Friday, German church leaders voted Read more
An influential theologian considered to be close to Pope Francis said he is “very worried” about the German Catholic Church’s controversial “Synodal Way.” Cardinal Walter Kasper the former head of the Vatican’s department for Christian unity said in a June 8 interview with the Passauer Bistumsblatt that he hoped the prayers of faithful Catholics could Read more
In our world Church today, there are two conversations at a national level about how a national Synod should occur. One is in Germany and another is in Australia. There seems little doubt that these conversations are only the first two of what will become dozens and dozens of conversations seeking to clarify what the Read more
An Italian cardinal says Italy’s “synodal journey” will be focusing on ways to resolve societal issues. Unlike the controversial issues the German bishops are grappling with in the “Synodal Way” taking place in Germany, Italy’s synodal journey begins with a different place, says Cardinal Gualtiero Bassetti (pictured). “Ours is not a synod; it is a Read more