Posted on 03/07/2021 6:21:00 PM PST by marshmallow
(ANALYSIS) Germany’s Catholic bishops embarked on a series of conversations in 2018 aimed at reforming church teachings. It was an ambitious, if not audacious, effort on everything from homosexuality, priestly celibacy and the ordination of women.
Conservative Catholics across the world decried the prospect. The tensions that arose at that time — and still simmering today — even caused some to warn that a permanent split could occur.
Indeed, the dreaded “s-word” — schism — can be used to describe the current moment.
It was just last year that a high-ranking prelate argued that pushing such changes could lead to a “German national church.”
Over the past three years, the bishops in Germany haven’t been shy about making headlines. While Pope Francis has elevated women at the Vatican, even he hasn’t endorsed such progressive proposals — although his papacy has emboldened the Germans to push for such changes.
The church across the West has suffered tremendously due to secularism and the clergy sex scandal, especially in Germany. None of these developments and alleged cover-ups has helped. The German bishops have brought what they call reforms back to the forefront over the past few weeks with a series of moves that could forever change Roman Catholicism.
These latest pronouncements have received attention in the U.S. press, primarily on the doctrinal right. There are exceptions, but overall these fast-moving developments have gone largely unnoticed as of late.
These moves come as the church in Germany continues to lose members. In 2019, for example, over 272,000 Catholics quit the church. In Cologne just last month, a secular city administrative court computer used to formalize exits from the church became overloaded, reported German broadcast giant Deutsche Welle.
Here’s a look at the timeline of developments out of Germany:
(Excerpt) Read more at religionunplugged.com ...
Francischism Sin-Nodal Ping
Don’t blame Luther. Rather blame the leftists and moral relativists who infiltrated the Church.
This is what happens when you reject sola scriptura. They will just make it up as they go, untethered from any foundation.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.