Michael Commane
Three German Catholic bishops, Heiner Koch, Reinhard Marx and Georg Bätzing made extremely interesting comments in recent weeks.
Koch is the archbishop of Berlin, Marx the archbishop of Munich and Freising, and Bätzing bishop of Limburg and also president of the German bishops’ conference.
Bätzing’s predecessor, Franz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst was engulfed in scandal, ranging from flying first class from Germany to India and building himself a palatial home. When the media found out about his expensive travel requirements the diocese employed a top legal firm to bat for him. But in the end it didn’t work and eventually Pope Francis in 2014 accepted the resignation Tebartz-van Elst, who had become known as the bishop of bling.
Marx, no relation to Karl, has been in the news because it was in his diocese that a predecessor of his, Pope Benedict, the then Joseph Ratzinger, has been accused of being economical with the truth when dealing with a number of clerical child sex abuse cases during his time as archbishop of Munich.
The three bishops have expressed their views on Catholic Church teaching on sexuality. On the popular Anne Will television programme some weeks ago Bätzing clearly said that Catholic Church teaching on sexual matters would have to change. All three bishops in the days following that programme said that there would have to be a move towards ordaining women and allowing priests to marry.
For three senior German bishops to speak publicly and clearly about such a taboo subject is a moment in German Catholic history, a moment in church history. Since then more German bishops have spoken of the need for change.
The debate is happening because of the Munich affair and the work of the worldwide synod that is currently taking place under the initiative of Pope Francis.
On the exclusion of women to the priesthood Bätzing said: ‘But I must honestly say that I am also aware that these arguments are becoming less and less convincing and that there are well-developed arguments in theology in favour of opening up the sacramental ministry to women as well.’
In an interview in a national daily newspaper Cardinal Marx said: ‘It would be better for everyone to create the possibility of having both celibate and married priests.
‘For some priests, it would be better if they were married. Not just for sexual reasons, but because it would be better for their lives and wouldn’t be so lonely.’
Archbishop Koch said that although celibacy is a ‘strong testimony of faith’, it does not have to ‘be the exclusive route to priestly ministry.
These days, listening to the German bishops speak in prophetic words, I’m reminded of people who lived in the former East Germany, who objected to the system but nevertheless went along with what the party apparatchiks said, as they were afraid to speak their minds. They lived troubled lives, never being free to voice their opinions. The Berlin Wall falls and everything changes. All the theories and reasons the people were given no longer made an ounce of sense.
Life is a mystery and the moral of the story surely is never say never.
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