From the perspective of the Viennese pastoral theologian Paul Zulehner, the Church is currently very busy with itself. He said this in an interview with the news portal kath.ch on Friday.
A pilgrimage to origins: Many participants in the World Synod made a pilgrimage to the Roman catacombs on the Appian Way on Thursday afternoon.
“My concern is that the church will successfully reform, but at the same time the tottering world will collapse,” Zulehner said. War is ravaging many parts of the world, the climate emergency is threatening nature and migration is increasing enormously. “And in this dramatic moment the church is dealing with itself. I consider this implosion of the church to be fatal. Jesus wanted to bring heaven to earth – the church must defend that.”
According to Zulehner’s warning, the current World Synod of Bishops in the Vatican should not look too navel-gazing. The church was too “God-forgetful and self-obsessed” for him. In contrast, he wants “us to be supporters of God’s hope for the world. So that the world becomes more just and peaceful. We must not save the Church over time through structural reforms, but rather share God’s passion for the world.”
“If what the Pope defends prevails, I am very hopeful”
Pope Francis is concerned with the world’s central issues. He constantly seeks dialogue to contribute to peace, cares for creation and calls for universal fraternity. “If what the Pope defends prevails, I am very hopeful.”
However, the theologian criticizes Francis’ statements that the Church is not a democracy and a synod is not a parliament. Given political developments, this is unintentionally counterproductive. “The church has the same basic values as a democracy. I advise you not to complain so much about democracies, because right-wing movements want to steal them from us.”
(kath.ch-sk)