Four German Bishops Reject Funding for Synodal Committee, Citing Papal Instruction

Four bishops from Germany, namely Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki of Cologne, Gregor Maria Hanke of Eichstätt, Stefan Oster of Passau, and Rudolf Voderholzer of Regensburg, voted against providing financial support for the synodal committee responsible for establishing a permanent German synodal council. The decision was made during a gathering of the 27 diocesan bishops in Berlin.

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6/20/2023 (1 year ago)

Published in Europe

The German Bishops' Conference acknowledged the disagreement, stating that the implementation of the 15 decisions reached during the synodal assembly requires unanimous approval from the bishops. Since four bishops have expressed their opposition to further financing of the Synodal Way, alternative methods of funding must now be explored.

The synodal committee's inaugural meeting is scheduled to take place on November 10-11, 2023, as planned, despite the funding setback. Financing for the contentious project has been a prominent concern, considering the already substantial cost incurred during the initial three-year phase of the Synodal Way. While specific funding figures for the three-year synodal committee have not been disclosed, it was revealed that 5.5 million euros had been spent on the Synodal Way during its initial phase of assemblies.

The four bishops who opposed funding for the synodal committee released a joint press statement explaining their stance. They expressed their belief that organizing a synodal committee in Germany, which would subsequently establish a synodal council, contradicts clear instructions from the pope. Consequently, they are unable to endorse this step at the present time. The bishops voiced concerns about the lack of clarity regarding the competencies and potential implications of establishing another body, particularly in light of the divisive decisions made during the Synodal Way. They stressed the importance of addressing these deep questions of doctrine, including those related to the Church, the individual, and the sacraments, through dialogue with Rome and the universal Church.

The Vatican, along with Pope Francis and other Church leaders, has previously expressed reservations about the creation of a permanent synodal council for the German Church. The proposed council would serve as a consultative and decision-making body on significant developments in the Church and society, making crucial decisions of supra-diocesan significance that extend beyond individual dioceses. Warning of the potential for schism arising from such plans, the Vatican intervened in July 2022 to oppose the establishment of a German synodal council. The Vatican reiterated that neither the Synodal Way nor any affiliated body possessed the authority to establish a synodal council at the national, diocesan, or parish level.

Despite ongoing disagreements, the texts adopted during the German Synodal Way will now be subjected to discussion with Rome and integrated into the synodal process of the universal Church. The bishops' ad limina visit to Rome in November previously confirmed this approach, although the formation of a new body was never discussed during that time.

While some bishops, like Bertram Meier of Augsburg, have expressed reservations due to the lack of clarity regarding goals and competencies, they have not aligned with the four bishops' reasoning for opposing funding for the synodal committee.

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The funding dispute underscores the deep divisions and concerns surrounding the Synodal Way in Germany, with significant implications for the Church and its future direction.