The chairman of the German Bishops' Conference, Robert Zollitsch, warns against hasty decisions in view of the demands for reform by Catholic theology professors. More is needed than a "church repair store that turns a few screws in order to produce a better church," Zollitsch writes in a guest article for the "Welt am Sonntag" newspaper.
"With all due goodwill to the authors, does anyone seriously believe that the implementation of the reform demands listed here will lead to the desired flourishing of faith and church??" asks the Archbishop of Freiburg.
Under the impression of the abuse scandal last year, the Catholic Bishops' Conference had called for a dialogue between laity, priests and bishops. Now Chairman Zollitsch writes that it is "perhaps unavoidable in this situation, but certainly not helpful, that demands and postulates are currently being thrown onto the market in rapid succession – formulated in the manner of lists of shortcomings that need to be worked through as quickly as possible".
In the memorandum published at the beginning of the month, more than 200 professors of theology at German-speaking universities had called for far-reaching reforms in the Catholic Church. "2011 must be a year of new beginnings in the Church," the paper says. In it, the theologians call for an "open dialogue without taboos" about power and communication structures, the church office, the participation of believers, and about morality and sexuality.
Do not stop at striking demands
Using the example of the debate about the celibacy of priests, Zollitsch warns against "short-sighted thinking and supposedly simple solutions". It is not enough to cite concerns about the shortage of priests as an argument for abandoning celibacy. Those who advocate opening the priesthood to so-called "viri probati" (men who have proven themselves in marriage and family) must explain how in the future the "essential charism of celibacy – as a sign of radical discipleship and belonging to Christ – can be preserved and strengthened". He said he did not want to prejudge the results of a real discussion. "But whoever wants to lead it must certainly not stop at striking demands," Zollitsch wrote
At the same time, the archbishop reaffirms his willingness to talk about reforms. "We bishops also start from the conviction that changes in church life and structures are possible and very much necessary," he writes. He said that the Bishops' Conference would draw up proposals at its plenary meeting in Paderborn at the end of March.