Neymeyr Expresses Support for Female Ordination in the Ministry

Place of worship - Neymeyr Expresses Support for Female Ordination in the Ministry

Erfurt's Bishop Ulrich Neymeyr recognizes the need for reform within the Catholic Church regarding the role of women. During a recent interview with ZDF-Morgenmagazin, he expressed, "Many Catholic women and men in Germany, along with the bishops, desire to see the ordination of women opened - at the very least, for deaconesses."

In the Catholic Church, only men can hold the ordained offices of deacon, priest, and bishop. Neymeyr shared in the interview, "We undeniably stray away from societal consensus in this matter." In today's Germany, there are no longer any restrictions on women's involvement in society solely due to their gender.

The 103rd Catholic Day in Erfurt commenced on Wednesday, bringing forth conversations on numerous topics, including war and peace, populism, and democracy. In this gathering, believers will also engage with internal church matters, including the role of women and the handling of abuse.

For years, the Catholic Church in Germany has deliberated on the ordination of women, priestly celibacy, and increased involvement of believers. However, this reform faces opposition from the Vatican, certain world church representatives, and even some German bishops. The Catholic Church made a stride towards liberalization in April as the Permanent Council of the German Bishops' Conference ratified the statutes of the Synodal Council. This committee will be responsible for coordinating a synodal council where lay representatives from the Central Committee of German Catholics and bishops will collaborate to advise and make decisions together.

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1. During the ZDF morning show, Ulrich Neymeyr, the Bishop of Erfurt in Thuringia, Germany, expressed his support for opening the ordination to women, at least for deaconesses, within the Catholic Church.
2. Conversations about gender roles in the Catholic Church, as well as other topics, were being had during the 103rd Catholic Day in Erfurt, attended by believers across Germany.
3. Neymeyr's views on women's ordination within the Church are in line with many Catholic women and men in Germany, who are advocating for change in this area.
4. During the interview, Neymeyr acknowledged the Catholic Church's deviation from societal consensus on the issue, as there are no longer any restrictions on women's societal involvement due to their gender in modern Germany.
5. Despite the Catholic Church in Germany considering reforms such as the ordination of women, priestly celibacy, and increased involvement of believers, opposition to these changes comes from the Vatican and certain world church representatives, including some German bishops.
6. Neymeyr's stance on female ordination and the Church's internal matters were discussed during the 103rd Catholic Day, alongside various topics related to the Church and society as a whole.
7. The Catholic Day also included a focus on recent developments within the Church, such as the German Bishops' Conference ratifying the statutes of the Synodal Council in April 2023, a committee designed to coordinate a synodal council where lay representatives and bishops will collaborate to provide guidance and make decisions together.

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