The "Central Committee of German Catholics" turns the Holy See's arguments on their head.From May 29 to June 2, the 103rd annualo German Catholic Congress (Katholikentag).
The origin of such conventions of Catholics goes back to the middle of the 19th century: in October 1848 a general assembly of Catholic associations in Germany was held in Mainz, inspired by a demonstration of faith in 1844, when a million pilgrims from all over Germany came to Trier for the exhibition of the Holy Robe. It was also understood as a reaction to the oppression of the Catholic population by Protestant governments since the Congress of Vienna in 1814-1815, which later led to the "cultural battle" (Kulturkampf). Initially, the Catholic Congress was an assembly of delegates from pious associations.
Due to the First World War, the Katholikentag was not held between 1914 and 1920, and could not be organized during the National Socialist regime and the Second World War, i.e. between 1933 and 1947. Since 1948, the Catholic Congress has been held every two years.
Criticism of the hierarchy
Originally, there was a rapport between the laity and the hierarchy. However, from 82.o German Catholic Congress, held in Essen in 1968, and due to the influence of the so-called "68" movement, an open resistance to the official Church emerged. In a certain sense, "the laity" see themselves as an opposition to the hierarchy, especially since 1970, when the "68" movement was born.Central Committee of German Catholics"(ZdK) took over the organization of the Catholic Congress.
This does not mean that - as was the case this year in Erfurt - joint solutions are not being sought to improve pastoral care. At a round table, two dioceses in eastern Germany - Magdeburg and Erfurt - presented models of pastoral care in view of the decline in priests: to serve its 72,000 Catholics, Magdeburg had 70 priests in 2013; today only 43 are still active and by 2030 there could be only about 20 priests to serve the 44 parishes in the diocese. Now, its bishop, Monsignor Gerhard Feige, clearly expressed that the priesthood is inherent to the Catholic Church: "I cannot imagine a Church without the priesthood".
Although the criticism of the "official" Church and the demand for "reforms" -substantially the same as since 1968: "voluntary" celibacy for priests, female priesthood, etc.-, what is somewhat new is that the hierarchy itself is exercising this criticism. In Erfurt, the president of the German Bishops' Conference, Monsignor Georg Bätzing - in a kind of debate with the president of the ZdK, Irme Stetter-Karp - criticized the Vatican's "Roman style of communication", stating that "they listen with great distinction, but then return to business as usual". He said he was "offended at not receiving a response to his request for dialogue" and advocated an approach that reflects "cultural diversity." Regarding the "Synodal Council" forbidden by the Vatican, he expressed his confidence that this "will not substantially change the basic structure of our Church", which is episcopal and will continue to be so. As in other occasions, he assured that "nobody wants a schism; we want a universal Church".
For her part, Irme Stetter-Karp regretted not having received a reply to several letters addressed to the Pope and expressed her determination that the Synodal Way should not be "a flower of a day". To this end, he advocated a "stable" structure, although he is aware that, for this, it will be necessary to modify Canon Law in the long term.
Clear words from the Nuncio
The Apostolic Nuncio, Monsignor Nikola Eterovic, stressed the importance of keeping the faith and bearing witness "in the midst of a secularized world." He said, "Without faith, we are lost"; even with the minority role Catholics have in eastern Germany, they can still be important in the family and in society "if people see that we believe and that faith guides us."
He was forceful against those who still continue to advocate for the priestly ordination of women, stressing that this question has already been answered and "is not open". He recalled that Pope Francis has repeatedly made it clear that the decision of St. John Paul II to reserve sacramental ordination to men remains in force.
In Vienna, his archbishop, Cardinal Christoph, also expressed himself in this sense. In a homily delivered at the ITI Catholic University of Trumau (Lower Austria), he said he was "deeply convinced that the Church cannot and must not change this, because she must keep the mystery of woman unchanged". The "question of the openness of the sacrament of Holy Orders presses the Church powerfully today" - he continued - "and all social evidence seems to speak in favor of the fact that the ecclesiastical order of the sacrament of Holy Orders is the last remnant of a patriarchal system" and, therefore, discriminatory. However, it is not simply narrow-mindedness that the Church has reserved the sacrament of Holy Orders for men. It is rather "a knowledge that has been entrusted to us". Cardinal Schönborn also referred to St. John Paul II, who clearly stated that he could not change this order, not because he was narrow-minded or conservative, but "because of the mandate to preserve that the Church is a bride and the ministry of the apostles and their successors is to serve this bride."
"Diversity"
At a Catholic Congress, Catholic associations of all tendencies present themselves; in addition to movements and communities, also for example organizations defending the right to life, such as the best known of them, ALfA. However, as has been evident for decades now, "political Catholicism" - as it is presented at these conventions - shows a clear left-wing bias, extending to ecclesiastical politics and right-to-life and bioethics issues. For example, in a panel on abortion, the Church's authentic teaching was not presented, even for information.
In Erfurt, the issues of the "woke" movement predominated, and it was even claimed that "God is trans". The "queer" was present everywhere, for example in a "room for reflection on genderqueer perspectives", without the slightest criticism of gender ideology. The Catholic Congress may be very critical of the hierarchy and traditional doctrine, but it does not accept criticism well.
Some commentators, such as Peter Winnemöller in "Die Tagespost", state that the Catholic Congresses of late are a "total failure when it comes to Catholic doctrine and discipline" and say that "some Catholic anthropology, natural law and Catholic social doctrine would be welcome". Msgr. Stefan Oster, bishop of Passau, said he would like to see a Catholic Congress with more spiritual content. The 103rd Katholikentag, held in Erfurt, was even more devoid of genuinely Catholic content than previous editions.
