Bishop This on the Blessing of Homo Couples and the Synodal Way | DOMRADIO.DE

“If we push the blessings through in the end, I think that would lead to divisions,” he said on Wednesday evening during an online discussion event of the Federation of German Catholic Youth (BDKJ) from Düsseldorf. “But I don’t rule it out either.” He would be happy if relationships that did not end in marriage were recognized as an attempt to live in love with a person rather than a sin.

The bishop wished that sexuality could be discussed more openly within the Church, for example in sermons. If pastors do not raise the issue because they fear resistance and an inner loyalty conflict, it is a sign of a disturbance. “This is an identification of the problem we have to solve,” said the latter. “We cannot solve it by just saying that everything the Church has said so far is enough to answer the new questions.” These questions should first be allowed.

Bishop This: Synodal path must be a success

Aachen’s Catholic Bishop Helmut This campaigned for the success of the Synodal Path reform dialogue. “Our forum and the Synodal Way must be a success,” he said during the online discussion event of the Federation of German Catholic Youth (BDKJ) from Düsseldorf. It is about dramatic decisions that decide whether the church can break into the multi-layered, secular society and speak to people at eye level. “If we don’t succeed in the Synodal Way, then I’m afraid we will first become a sect.”

The event was part of a BDKJ series on the Synodal Path Reform Dialogue, which presides over the forum on sexuality and partnership. Cologne auxiliary bishop Dominikus Schwaderlapp had recently resigned from this body. The majority of the line pursued there aims to change the church’s sexual morality, he explained in an interview as justification.

After an intense struggle, the German bishops had decided on a binding synodal path in spring 2019. The main topics are power, sexual morality, the way of life of the priests and the role of women in the church. With the collaboration of lay Catholics and external experts, the bishops want to clarify their positions on these issues. Before the start of the first Synodal Assembly in late January, some bishops had criticized the format.

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