At the German Synodal Way's last conference, held in Frankfurt from March 9 to 11, 230 bishops and laity delegates debated topics like blessings for gay couples, women's ordination, a relaxation of the celibacy requirement, and increased lay church participation.
The agenda, which included 10 resolution texts, represented the local church's desire to "arrive at visible improvements," according to Bishop Georg Bätzing, president of the German Bishops' Conference, who spoke in Frankfurt on March 9. He reportedly said, "This church deserves that we do not leave it as it is," according to the German news agency KNA.
According to Irme Stetter-Karp, head of the Central Committee of German Catholics, "there were stages of disappointment, of rage, and of despair, but there were also phases of euphoria and of fruitful cooperation. We now need to demonstrate that we were deserving of the confidence that so many people had in us.
According to KNA, the assembly voted on March 10 that blessing services for same-sex couples will soon be held in the Catholic Church in Germany. Additionally, it stated that civil partnership remarriages should likewise be permitted in the Catholic Church, along with divorces.
The Synodal Way reform project accepted a similar text in Frankfurt on March 10 with a majority of over 90% following a contentious debate, according to KNA. The report suggests creating and implementing suitable religious festivals and ceremonies.
38 bishops out of the 58 who cast ballots did so in favour, nine did not, and 11 did not. Abstentions from the vote on the Synodal Way were counted as votes cast, hence the outcome was determined to be in favour by a margin of just under 81%. The statutes require the bishops to get a two-thirds majority to pass decisions, therefore 20 votes against would have been sufficient to reject the wording.
Israeli former prime minister calls on world leaders to mitigate Benjamin Netanyahu
At least 22 people were allegedly murdered in a monastery in Myanmar