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dpa
Rome
Pope Francis openly criticized a German Catholic Church reform process on Tuesday, arguing that Germany is not in need of a second Protestant movement.
The German reform movement, the Synodal Path, has called for change within the Church, including the ordination of women and the blessing of homosexual couples. It also addresses priestly celibacy and positions of power.
“There is a very good Protestant Church in Germany. We don’t need two of them,” the pope told Jesuit magazine La Civiltà Cattolica. He made similar comments to the chairperson of the German Bishops’ Conference, Georg B?tzing.
“The problem arises when the Synodal Path springs from the intellectual and theological elites and is much influenced by pressure from outside,” Pope Francis said.
He spoke more favourably of dioceses where the Synodal Path was being developed slowly together with the faithful.
Francis also commented on Cologne Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki in the interview with the Jesuit magazine.
Woelki returned to his post earlier this year following a leave of absence after not publicly releasing a report on child sexual abuse and alleged cover-ups in his archdiocese.
“When the situation was very turbulent, I asked the archbishop to go away for six months so that things could calm down and I could see more clearly,” the pope said.
His statement attracted comment in Germany, as Woelki had said that he himself had decided to take time off.
Francis said, “When he came back, I asked him to write a letter of resignation. He did that and gave it to me. And he wrote a letter of apology to the diocese. I left him in office to see what would happen, but I have his letter of resignation in my hand.”
Rome
Pope Francis openly criticized a German Catholic Church reform process on Tuesday, arguing that Germany is not in need of a second Protestant movement.
The German reform movement, the Synodal Path, has called for change within the Church, including the ordination of women and the blessing of homosexual couples. It also addresses priestly celibacy and positions of power.
“There is a very good Protestant Church in Germany. We don’t need two of them,” the pope told Jesuit magazine La Civiltà Cattolica. He made similar comments to the chairperson of the German Bishops’ Conference, Georg B?tzing.
“The problem arises when the Synodal Path springs from the intellectual and theological elites and is much influenced by pressure from outside,” Pope Francis said.
He spoke more favourably of dioceses where the Synodal Path was being developed slowly together with the faithful.
Francis also commented on Cologne Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki in the interview with the Jesuit magazine.
Woelki returned to his post earlier this year following a leave of absence after not publicly releasing a report on child sexual abuse and alleged cover-ups in his archdiocese.
“When the situation was very turbulent, I asked the archbishop to go away for six months so that things could calm down and I could see more clearly,” the pope said.
His statement attracted comment in Germany, as Woelki had said that he himself had decided to take time off.
Francis said, “When he came back, I asked him to write a letter of resignation. He did that and gave it to me. And he wrote a letter of apology to the diocese. I left him in office to see what would happen, but I have his letter of resignation in my hand.”
