The Complex "Synodal" Governing of the German Catholic Church is Unstoppable


The liberal German Catholic Church has been driving conservative Catholics plus the Pope up the wall. I've never understood how it could continue to make known its support of gay marriage and gay priests while at the same time being scolded by the Pope. Can't a Pope give orders? I now have at least some understanding of what is going on in Germany and why it continues to do whatever it wants while the Pope and conservative Catholics have a cow.

Germany has adopted what might be referred to as a "method of governance" called the Synodal Path. But it uses the word "synodal" in a way that is different from its use in the rest of the huge Catholic hierarchy. In the traditional use of synodal, there is a process of gathering information from all relevant sources, lay, clergy, etc. and moving it up a chain to clergy who then decide if there will be changes. 

In Germany, what is called the Synodal Path has two separate groups gathering grassroot views. One is the German Bishops. The other is called in English the Central Committee of German Catholics. The handle ZdK is used. This latter group is made up of a cross section of German Catholic laity plus various kinds of church office holders. Each group, Bishops and ZdK, has the same number of votes. 

The German Catholic Church receives a large amount of tax revenue. To continue this revenue stream, it needs broad public support. The ZdK, then, represents taxpayer views which are important to the financial future of the church. 

This synodal process of gathering views, forming opinions and voting on theological issues came to a head last year with a vote to allow priests to perform gay marriages. This was roundly criticized by the Pope and conservative clergy and pundits in the U.S. What the vote means is complicated. Everyone agrees it is not the official position of the German Catholic Church, "Legally it is not binding. Morally it is," said one official.

I've read many priests in Germany bless gay marriages. Apparently, the combination of the German Synodal Path and government funding of the church disrupt whatever chain of command might be in the denomination. This means, of course, that Rome's ruling against gay marriage only one part of where the denomination stands. On-the-ground blessing of gay couples by priests is another part.

From this distance, it does not seem possible the Rome will ever be able to bring the German Catholic Church into compliance. Its efforts continue to entertain us.  

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