“Impatience is growing”

ZdK Vice President Kortmann (li.) with outgoing President Sternberg (m.) © Harald Oppitz (KNA)

The plenary assembly of the Central Committee of German Catholics (ZdK) continues to meet only digitally. ZdK Vice President Karin Kortmann on the "inner-church" pandemic, regaining trust and too little success on the Synodal Way.

Interviewer: There was a very dense and well-received talk on Friday by Thomas Halik, the noted philosopher of religion and Czech priest. He spoke of two pandemics at once. Besides Corona still talking about an internal church pandemic, the shaking of the Catholic Church's credibility by sexual violence. How have you experienced this?

Karin Kortmann (former. SPD Member of Parliament and Vice President of the Central Committee of German Catholics): We have chosen Thomas Halik in order to also look at the Eastern European point of view. And he first of all gave us a lot of courage. This has done good. He thanked the German Church for initiating the synodal path and showing the courage to reform. But at the same time says we need not only courage now, but we need wisdom, we need responsibility and perseverance. And we need a deep renewal of theology, spirituality and pastoral practice. He has actually written into our diary: Don't just go into structural debates, but turn to the content. Because you really have to ask yourself, what does church actually mean today, when church rooms are emptying?? Where do people still find each other and where can they shape their faith?? And faith is always an interrelation of people. So there is a need for these places. And in doing so, he very emphatically pointed out that we should also turn more strongly to those in need, not only in the purely Catholic category. We turn to people who are looking for guidance and support. What can we offer as a church? And we should please not let up in this commitment.

Interviewer: Around the topic of "sexualized violence" and especially in the archdiocese of Cologne, the situation remains quite tense despite two expert reports on the subject. Trust is lacking. How do you see it, especially in view of the current statement of the Cologne Diocesan Council from yesterday??

Kortmann: Just saying there is now an expert opinion that is published doesn't solve the basic problems of why the first one wasn't published, why there were resignations of people on the Affected Persons Advisory Council… We need a new basic consensus between diocesan leadership, lay organization, faithful in parishes, priests, people who are parish and pastoral ministers. So much has been broken there. This can only be healed if one actually looks for it with a diocesan synod and asks: What is the basis of our commitment, our faith?? What connects us? And what can we rely on? And how do we continue on the path together?? So to simply put the tablecloth over it and to say that everything that is still there underneath, we will leave it there, does not help one step further. And the Diocesan Council makes a great offer and says we want to stay involved and we are with it. But we need to start communication anew in this discourse. I hope that Cardinal Woelki will take this outstretched hand for cooperation and also go along this way.

Interviewer: And how do you experience the mood among the participants, for example, on the topic of the "Synodal Way"?? Where to go on the road?

Kortmann: The impatience for results is growing. Due to the pandemic, synodal meetings have also been delayed because we can't meet as arranged. But the desire that we now have to achieve results was clearly demonstrated by the question of the "blessing of same-sex partnerships". Then we realized that we have actually initiated something with the resolutions that we as the ZdK have already passed. Since the note from the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, namely that everything remains the same, has now shown a kind of Christian civil resistance, when pastors attach the rainbow flag to the top of the church tower and clearly say "we show the flag, we show our colors", then we must now also come quite quickly to action and make it clear that if we in Germany come to this blessing of same-sex couples, the universal church will not collapse. But we build bridges to people who are also in the image of God. And what right do I have to deny them the blessing for their life together??

Interviewer: In difficult times, the Central Committee is also losing its president, Thomas Sternberg, who, as announced, does not want to stand for re-election as planned. What does this mean for the ZdK?

Kortmann: I don't regret this alone, we all regret this. Thomas Sternberg had said he would be available for six years, has set great things in motion. Now it is important to see how the new ZdK presidium will be composed for the autumn general assembly in November. Will some of the current board members run again or will we find a new composition altogether?? The footprints are big as far as the presidential role is concerned. We will now have wise consultations and discussions and see that we have an excellent top again. Because the work is not diminishing, and we want to continue to raise awareness of lay Catholicism. And for that you also need good people.

Interviewer: In your view, isn't it time for a woman to take the helm at the ZdK again?? Are you available?

Kortmann: If a woman runs for it, she is to be seen as equally important as if a man were to run for it. We'll just see who can do it. The ZdK has a very ambitious task centered on the president. And we have almost always had personalities who were also available with a large time contingent. And it will also be the question: Are we more likely to approach people who say, "we can set this up part-time"? Or let's say we also have to define this office differently again? I would be in favor of the latter, in order to give younger people the opportunity to work in this presidium and, if possible, also in a prominent position. But for the time being the talks have not yet started. We have only talked about it in the presidium and we should now first wait for the consultations in the main committee, in the bodies of the ZdK and then also see through a search commission that there are many people from our ranks or even beyond who say "I would like to preside over this top". I am sure we will find a good successor.

The interview was conducted by Katharina Geiger.

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