“A lot on the move”

"The Synodal Way has set a lot in motion. It is an important learning field for the culture of debate in the Catholic Church." In the meantime, opinions and attitudes are allowed to coexist, and real discussions are possible.

Hoffmann went on to say that he was optimistic that this could be used to change the German church, as well as the universal church, to some extent: "It is good if we as a church do not get in the way of the work of the Holy Spirit too much. And the way becomes spiritual not by praying at the beginning and at the end, but by a way of talking to each other, of listening to each other, which knows how to respond courageously to the signs of the times."

Regaining trust and developing the church

With the Synodal Way, the German bishops and the Central Committee of German Catholics (ZdK) want to regain trust after the abuse scandal and promote debates within the church. Topics include power, sexual morality, the lifestyle of priests and the role of women in the church. The initiative was decided in 2019; the end is open, also because of Corona.

The project is receiving critical support from many quarters, including the Vatican. Some fear that the reforms they see as necessary, including the ordination of women as priests, will not be achieved and that the high expectations will ultimately be disappointed. For the others, the demands go much too far and they warn against German special ways without consideration for the universal church and the valid church teachings.

The reform process Synodal Way is also a topic at the plenary meeting of the Central Committee of German Catholics (ZdK) on Saturday.
The Family Federation of Catholics includes associations such as Caritas, the Catholic Workers' Movement (KAB), the Landvolk, Kolping and the Catholic Women's Association (kfd). It represents according to own data the entire federation Catholicism as well as 20.000 individual members.