Posted on 02/25/2021 6:46:59 PM PST by marshmallow
Lay theologian Beate Gilles is the first woman to be elected as the general secretary of the German Catholic bishops' conference. The move comes as bishops face calls to fully own up to scandals.
The German Catholic Bishops' Conference (DBK) elected a woman for the first time as the conference's top administrator on Tuesday, in a move aimed at modernizing the body.
Theologian Beate Gilles was appointed as general secretary of the conference, which is based in Bonn. After her election to the post, the 50-year-old noted her skills as a runner are also well suited to her new role.
"I am an endurance athlete," Gilles said. "That means I know that a marathon is not decided in its 40 kilometers, but rather by the 1,000 kilometers in training — that's my distance."
Gilles is taking on the role as Germany's bishops face deep disquiet among 22 million German Catholics as well as demands for more leadership roles for women.
'Strong signal' for modernization
During Tuesday's virtual bishop's conference gathering, DBK chair Georg Bätzing described Gilles' election as a "strong signal that the bishops are fulfilling their pledge to advance women into leadership positions."
Gilles, who takes over as general secretary on July 1, will not only be the first woman to hold the top bishops' conference post, but also the first layperson.
The high-ranking role of general secretary is responsible for implementing decisions made by the bishops.
(Excerpt) Read more at dw.com ...
Ich bin ein Frau Pope.
Christianity in Europe is long gone, their churches but museums.
She’s probably more masculine than most of the German bishops.
No worries.
Probably born a man.
Yes, we are facing the same future here in the US. A contracting Church, few young members, far fewer vocations - the hierarchy doesn’t make the case for anyone to believe anymore. After this embarrassing public silence regarding Biden’s “Catholicism” (or outright endorsements), they’re really shot themselves in the foot. If they want to sell the Catholic Church as social justice warriors, they’d realize the left has no interest in seeing anything faith-based competing with a gubmint bureaucracy (in healthcare, education, adoption services, etc.) - they are a redundant burden. If they support the gubmint taxing their flock for these things (the gubmint programs), what exactly would the flock be supporting if they donate to the Church? How many of them could afford to donate anyway?
The Church hierarchy in the West played an active role in its own demise; it is now a shadow of its former self, presiding over masses of empty buildings (including seminaries).
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