The church in Germany is pleased. Francis agreed to “experiments”

The Catholic Church in Germany is not content with the fresh decision of Pope Francis. It is the Holy Father's "Note" to the Final Synod paper on Synodality.

Francis published the Note on 25 November. He stated in it that the Final paper of the Synod on Synodality is part of the average mastery of St Peter's successor and hence bishops are obliged to implement it. He besides ordered bishops to study during ad limina Apostolorum visits on the advancement of the introduction of synodality in his dioceses. In the paper he besides called very clearly for the building of diversity in the Church, stating that not all doctrinal, moral and pastoral discussions must be decided by the Magisterium. In another words, many decisions on how to interpret doctrine lie in the hands of bishops.

The German bishops and theologians, after the Synod of Synod of Synodality, declared that they were satisfied due to the fact that the decisions of the Synod Assembly in Rome perceived as strengthening what was happening in Germany, that is, the changes introduced on the Synod Way. This is how both the president of the German Episcopal Conference, Bishop Georg Bätzing, and the Vice-President of the Central Committee of the German Catholics, the secular prof. of theology Thomas Söding, presented the subject.

On the latest “Note” of Francis on the portal of the German Episcopal Conference, Katholisch.de, writer Felix Neumann now wrote.

As he pointed out, the request for implementation of synodality in dioceses expressed in the Note is very clear and the refusal to act "may even lead to criminal consequences".

Neumann recalled that under the ecclesiastical law those who would stubbornly reject average papal teaching – and this is the Final paper of the Synod on Synodality – could meet with sanctions until they were taken distant from their office.

Neumann noted that Francis does not mention specified penalties in the "Nota", but, noting the legal work to implement synodality, clearly suggests this possibility.

The author pointed out that the Final paper was a alternatively general text, as the participants of the Synod Assembly assumed that the pope would usage their text as a basis for the improvement of the author's post-synodal adhortation. Francis decided otherwise. This is why the implementation of synod changes on the level of local Churches must now begin. In another words, it is about changes in dioceses or in the full conference of the episcopal of a given country.

Neumann stressed that 1 of the key issues seems to be the "greater participation of laymen" in church life. "German dioceses are pioneers here," he noted. As the writer added, this is done both under the applicable law and under the legal structures.

Referring to the letter “Note” Francis noted that the Holy Father powerfully encourages experimentation. In another words, the law doesn't gotta have the last word.

Indeed, the Holy Father wrote in the text about the “creative” creation of fresh forms of ministry in the Church, which will be anchored in the “possibilities” expressed in the Final Document. Even if there is something not provided for in the ecclesiastical law, but the Final paper already does – it seems that it can be implemented on a synodistic basis.

"In the future, those who do not carry out synod suggestions will gotta explain themselves – not those who go forward and experiment," concluded Felix Neumann.

Sources: Katholisch.de, PCh24.pl

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