Religious establishment - The bishop believes there's a chance for women to be ordained as deacons.
In spite of pushback from the Vatican, Georg Bätzing, the head of the German Bishops' Conference, remains hopeful that women could be ordained as deaconesses. While he acknowledges the potential challenges, Bätzing candidly admits, "I’m not going to pin myself down on the timing of it."
On a recent occasion, Pope Francis notoriously opined that a Catholic girl will never have the opportunity to become a consecrated deaconess. This came as a shock to Bätzing, as he had conversed with the Pope multiple times about the matter and had never heard him express such views before. During a brimming discussion in Erfurt, Bätzing underlined that the German Catholic Church won't push for the ordination of women. "Then we've reached a point of no return," stated Bishop Franz-Josef Bode from Limburg. "We witnessed that some 500 years ago." Bätzing advocated for global change while emphasizing the need for decentralization.
Moreover, Irme Stetter-Karp, the president of the Central Committee of German Catholics, urged for expedited reforms in the church. "We need a church that people feel drawn to," she insisted. In light of the abuse crisis, trust in the institution has been severely eroded. "That cannot be indifferent to us," she added, urging Bätzing, "Why do the bishops exude so little power but still retain so much?"
Surveys have shown that a staggering 96% of Catholics in Germany are desperate for amendments within the church. Disappointment over inadequate progress during the Synodal Way reform process was evident in Stetter-Karp's tone. However, she also shared, "I would not consider myself a Christian or be able to call myself one if there wasn't hope for change."
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Georg Bätzing's hope for women's ordination as deacons in the Catholic Church echoes within Thuringia, despite the Vatican's opposition. This aspiration stems from his role as the Bishop of the Catholic Church in Germany and the head of the German Bishops' Conference.
Pope Francis' stance against the ordination of women as consecrated deaconesses was an unexpected contradiction to Bätzing's discussions with him on the topic. Responding to this, Bätzing reaffirmed that the Catholic Church in Germany will not actively pursue the ordination of women.
Irme Stetter-Karp, the president of the Central Committee of German Catholics, has been advocating for accelerated reforms within the church, citing the need for an institution that attracts followers. She still holds onto hope for change, despite the Church's history and the recent abuse crisis eroding trust among Catholics in Germany.
Surveys have shown a unanimous 96% desire for change within the Catholic Church in Germany. Disappointment over the slow progress during the Synodal Way reform process is palpable, especially among German Catholics who have been supportive of the idea of women's ordination.
Despite the challenges, the Catholic Church in Germany remains focused on decentalization and global change, seeking to reinvent itself as a relevant and attractive institution. The German Bishops' Conference and the Central Committee of German Catholics aim to lead this transformation, with the input and support of the Vatican as well as the German Catholics themselves.
Georg Bätzing's calls for reforms, together with Irme Stetter-Karp's urgency for change, have sparked conversations about the future of the Catholic Church in Germany and beyond, with women's roles and the institution's responsiveness to the needs of its followers at the forefront.
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