In the meantime, the German Church is openly challenging Rome and, paradoxically, using the very instrument of synod so dear the Pope The general assembly of the German synodal path, which was accepted by the majority, put two of the hottest concerns on the agenda of the universal church: the blessing of homosexual couples and the revision of the obligation celibacy priestly.
The outcome of the Frankfurt meeting makes Germany seem even further removed from “its” Pope Joseph Ratzinger who, as cardinal, recalled that “the Church of Christ is not a party, not an association, not a club: its deep and indissoluble structure is not democratic but sacramental, that is, hierarchical”. 176 yes votes – but not too many – for the compromise text on the rainbow blessing and 205 for the revision of celibacy.
The stakes of Rome
The majority of German bishops and laypeople therefore ignored the missions that the Holy See had imposed both during the ad limina visit in November, which also included a meeting with the heads of the Dicastery, Cardinals Luis Francisco Ladaria Ferrer, Pietro Parolin and others Marc Ouellet. The latter in particular had proposed a moratorium that would have effectively suspended the German synodal process, which was rejected by the German bishops in exchange for assurances of intent to avoid divisions.
Reassurances which, as could also be gathered from the defiant tones used by the President of the Episcopal Conference, Monsignor, at a press conference in Rome George Batzinghave proven useless.
Internal protests
Not all German Church is compact on the line indicated in the final texts adopted by the Frankfurt Assembly. An important counter-gesture to the synod trip came from four Catholic lay people, the theology teachers Katharina Westerhorstmann and Marianne Schlosser, the philosopher Hanna-Barbara Gerl-Falkovitz and the journalist Dorothea Schmidt, who declared before the closing sessions that they no longer wanted to take part in the proceedings and accused the synod of “calling into question fundamental Catholic teachings and convictions”. An important sign came from two Ratzinger Prize winners, the theologian Marianne Schlosser and the philosopher Hanna-Barbara Gerl-Falkovitz.
Gänswein’s opposition
Schlosser and Falkovitz aren’t the only two characters they’re related to in any way Benedict XVI who have decided to break with the German synodal path. Following the votes in Frankfurt, which led to the green light for the blessing of gay couples and the revision of the church’s obligation to be celibate, Archbishop Monsignor George Ganswein. Ratzinger’s historical secretary told the Tagespost: “If the synodal path continues to pursue the declared goals unchanged, the Roman Catholic Church in Germany will say goodbye to the unity of the world church”. Gänswein did not hide his concern about what the assembly decided on the synodal path and what could happen if the German bishops and lay organizations have no intention of backing down. This position could make it difficult for him to get into the currently vacant seat Bamberg and with it a possible return to Germany to lead a diocese.
Gänswein spoke of his fears of the German synod at the presentation of his book “Nothing but the Truth”, which has now also been published in German. In the Luitpold cafe Monk, the German archbishop was received triumphantly and had a lot to do with applause and copies signed.
During this meeting, the secretary of Benedict XVI. – as he had done in the days before to those who had managed to speak to us – that the audience with Francis last week was different from what he himself had expected and also announced in the new Rai program by Bruno Vespa not decisive, because the Pope informed him that he had not yet made a decision about his future office. In this context, Gänswein would have joked about who the future was for him Apostolic Nuncio in a distant country in Africa or Asia.
In the meantime, the Mater Ecclesiae monastery has been evacuated and Gänswein has also taken steps to amend Benedict XVI’s testamentary provisions. to carry out by destroying the personal letters that the German Pope had exchanged with his parents and brothers. While most of Ratzinger’s vast library was donated to the institute founded by Cardinal Pope Benedict XVI. went to Regensburg Gerhard Ludwig Mueller.