(Overview by Co-Pilot)

Christian Weisner’s article in Adista discusses the evolution of synodality within the Catholic Church in Germany, particularly following the Würzburg Synod and the subsequent response to the sexual abuse crisis. It highlights the complexities of the synodal path and the Vatican's cautious approach, alongside the broader global synodal process initiated by Pope Francis.

• Würzburg Synod's impact: The Würzburg Synod influenced the Catholic Church's direction in Germany post-Vatican II, but many decisions, such as the female diaconate, were not acknowledged by the Vatican.
  
  
• Response to abuse scandals: The German bishops faced pressure after the 2010 abuse scandal, leading to unsuccessful dialogue processes and the initiation of a "synodal path" addressing systemic issues identified in the MHG study.
  
  
• Global synodal process: Pope Francis's global synodal process began shortly after the German synodal path, allowing unprecedented participation and addressing various reform issues, including women's roles in the Church.
  
  
• Cultural dialogue: The introduction of the term "synodality" fostered a culture of dialogue, which Cardinal Hollerich suggested could serve as a model for political processes amidst global political upheaval.
  
  
• Concerns over control: The Vatican's decision to shift urgent topics to study groups before the 2024 synodal assembly raised concerns about regaining control over the synodal process.
  
  
• Women’s roles and expectations: The 2024 assembly faced criticism for its handling of women’s roles, with mixed messages about the potential for a female diaconate and ongoing discrimination against women in the Church.
  
  
• Existential crisis: The document notes that the Church is in a deep existential and constitutional crisis, necessitating a re-evaluation of power dynamics and the role of women within the Church.

Future of reform: The document concludes that while concrete reforms are still pending, the need for a consistent implementation of reforms is critical for the Church's credibility and future, with women's issues remaining a priority.

Read the article

Pope Leo was elected 4 weeks ago. We are very pleased to read that Elza, Roberto and Luigi Sandri were present at an event with Pope Leo on May 30th.

If Leo wants to be a successful pontiff, i.e. a ‘bridge builder’, we have to go on to strengthen the reform orientated ‘bridge pillar’ based on the Second Vatican Council into all processes and debates. This is a task that We are Church has been carrying out for 30 years together with many other global reform forces. The death of Francis and the election of Leo attracted a great deal of attention worldwide. In Germany We are Church was quite active with media work. But we have to continue.

Similar to Valerie I have started a new section https://www.wir-sind-kirche.de/leo14 on our website with first statements by Pope Leo XIV., first votes on his election and (online) events on the new Pope Leo XIV. In Germany, he has met with considerable approval because, as a cardinal, he has shown himself to be open to the German synodal path.

A week ago we started a Petition to Pope Leo XIV: “Cardinal Woelki is no longer acceptable!”, that has reached almost 60.000 signatures. In short: The Cologne public prosecutor's office assessed two facts sworn to in court by Cardinal Woelki as ‘objectively incorrect’ and ‘objectively untrue’. Nevertheless, the investigations against him were dropped, as the accused had not previously ‘appeared in criminal proceedings’. Furthermore, in the opinion of the Cologne public prosecutor's office, he made the two false oaths ‘negligently’, as he did not check the claims made in them, but made them ‘for the sake of it’.

Both cases concerned Cardinal Woelki's handling of allegations of sexual abuse by priests of the Archdiocese of Cologne. The cardinal denied the accusation that he had not acted appropriately in both cases with a written affidavit and a sworn statement in court. In the opinion of the public prosecutor's office in Cologne, he ‘breached the duty of care incumbent upon him’.

Best wishes from Germany

C h r i s t i a n