German secular revolutionaries had a gathering with the Roman Curia this week. They are pleased: as the head of the Central Committee of the German Catholics, Irme Stetter-Karp says, 1 can number on expanding common knowing and, consequently, making it easier for the organization to carry out its tasks.
The Central Committee of German Catholics has been de facto co-hosting the bishops of the Catholic Church in Germany for many years. The organization, together with the Episcopate, initiated the revolutionary Synodal Way in 2019 and developed a series of changes projects, going through the "reform" of celibacy, the function of women in the Church, sexual morality to the way they exercise power. The second point came to large opposition in the Vatican, due to the fact that the Committee and the bishops want to establish a Synod Council – an organ that will take over part of the competences of the Episcopal Conference. The point is that power in the Church in Germany should be democratized and, to any extent, formally put into the hands of the laymen. Germany expects this model to be later transferred to another European countries.
Because of the possible subversiveness of these ideas, The Committee has not had access to the Vatican in fresh years – the Roman Curia refused to speak. But now it has changed. This week, representatives of the Committee spent 3 days in Rome talking to representatives of the Holy See. As the head of the Committee, Irme Stetter-Karp, said in an interview with the German Catholic Information Agency, you can number on an agreement.
– Where we could talk openly, common knowing grew. – she said. In her opinion, all tensions cannot be completely eliminated, but the dialog has been strengthened, so that the image of the German Synod Way in the Vatican has become more diverse. – From my perspective, it was a good first step and I am open to continuing She added.
As she stressed, much has changed especially in the Dicastery of the Doctrine of Faith, which has been directed since September by Argentine Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernández.
– The fight against abuse is now at the centre. We have noted with interest that [in Dycasteria] the request for consistent action against perpetrators and those who cover up these cases, according to circumstantial standards – she noted. According to Irme Stetter-Karp in the Vatican, there is inactive no specified belief as in Germany as to the request to introduce "systematic changes" in the Church to combat abuse and cover them up; but any of the interviewers in Rome managed to find a common language. It is about 2 Germans, Father Hans Zollner and Peter Beer, who deal with the problem of sexual abuse by clergy in the Vatican.
According to the head of the Committee in the Vatican, the “prejudice” towards this organisation has been broken. – I think people in Rome now realize better than they utilized to, which motivates us on the Synod Way. They've been informed before by 3rd parties, and they've been talking to us. I am convinced that the climate has changed – looking at us as engaged Christians who are devoted to the Church She said.
The Central Committee has full support from leading German bishops, including the current head of Bishop Georg Bätzing and his predecessor Cardinal. Reinhard Marx.
Sources: Katholisch.de, PCh24.pl
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