Free Republic

The vice president of the German episcopate challenges Rome and encourages gay couples to go to churches to be blessedFranz-Josef Bode, bishop of the Osnabrück diocese and vice-president of the German Bishops' Conference, is one of the first German bishops to move from theory to practice.Bishop Bode has never hidden his progressiveness throughout his years as bishop. Now, with the power and influence that comes from being vice president of the German bishops, this bishop calls for disobedience against the Vatican. The Osnabrück diocese is officially in absentia. We are going to tell you what this bishop has decided in...

[Catholic Caucus] Rome Seeks ‘Dialogue’ as Bishops Act on Gay BlessingsPope Francis remains silent on heretical resolutions as errant priests escape sanctions As Pope Francis remains silent on the potential schism rocking the Catholic Church, German bishops have begun to implement the resolutions on blessings for same-sex unions and women preachers passed by the Synodal Way. Priest 'blessing' a lesbian couple in Germany "I can encourage all couples in our diocese who cannot or do not want to get married in a church, but still want their relationship to be blessed by the church, to contact us," Bishop Franz-Josef Bode,...

From the baptism to the sermon to the blessing ceremony View of the Fifth Synodal Assembly in Frankfurt Practical consequences of the synodal path for the Diocese of Osnabrück New blessing celebrations for couples, baptisms also by non-clerics and women and men who preach in the service: These are three of the concrete consequences that the resolutions of the synodal path of the Catholic Church in Germany will have for the Diocese of Osnabrück. Other resolutions of the process at the federal level, which was concluded last weekend with the Fifth Synodal Assembly, are also to be implemented promptly in...

Back Again: German Bishops "Allow" Lethal InjectionGermany is in the process of enforcing assisted suicide ("euthanasia") after their Constitutional Court claimed in February 2020 that the ban on "businesslike euthanasia" contradicts a "right to self-determination".The bishops and protestants in Lower Saxony and Bremen published an "ecumenical declaration" on this on 16 March, signed by Bishops Bode (Osnabrück), Wilmer (Hildesheim) and Theising (Münster auxiliary bishop).They justify assisted suicide in individual cases [= always], "Whether in borderline and emergency situations an assisted suicide can be tolerated in church houses cannot be answered in a general way" [= it is allowed].Wilmer (Hildesheim) said...

[Catholic Caucus] German Catholic bishops welcome initiative seeking change in Church teaching on sexualityGerman Catholic bishops on Monday welcomed an initiative that is calling for a change in Church teaching on sexuality and gender identity.The initiative titled “#OutInChurch — For a church without fear,” launched on Jan. 24, appealed for the revision of what it described as “defamatory and outdated” expressions of Catholic doctrine, reported CNA Deutsch, CNA’s German-language news partner.In a seven-point list of demands, the organizers wrote: “Defamatory and outdated statements of Church doctrine on sexuality and gender need to be revised on the basis of theological and...

German diocese has women preaching at Mass as part of ‘week of action’ The Catholic Church generally forbids anyone but an ordained man (a priest or a deacon) to preach homilies. OSNABRÜCK, Germany, September 4, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — In an apparent violation of Church law, Bishop Franz-Josef Bode of the German diocese of Osnabrück is allowing women to preach during Holy Mass, as part of the upcoming “week of action” entitled “Women proclaim the Word.” Inga Schmitt works for the diocese in the area of communication of the faith. In an interview published by the diocesan website, she explained that...

VP of German Bishops’ Conference: Christ ‘became a human being, not a man’ Bishop Franz-Josef Bode is the head of the 'synodal path' discussion forum on women. February 7, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – “For us, Christ became a human being, not a man,” according to Bishop Franz-Josef Bode of Osnabrück, the vice president of the German Bishops’ Conference and head of the “synodal path” discussion forum on women.  Bode made these comments, which are now causing a stir internationally, in a controversial February 5 interview to the diocesan newspaper Kirchenbote. “The collaboration between women and men,” he explains, “is one...

[Catholic Caucus] German Bishops: Adultery "No Sin"; Homosexuality "Normal", "Unchangeable" During a consultation on "human sexuality," which was part of their "Synodal Way," a group of German bishops discussed on Thursday whether the ban on homosexual fornication and contraception was still “up to date."The bishops Koch (Berlin), Bode (Osnabrück), Ipolt (Görlitz), Kohlgraf (Mainz) as well as several auxiliary bishops took part in the meeting.According to a 5 December press release, the so-called bishops concluded that homosexuality was one of the "normal forms of sexual predisposition" and that homosexuality is "not changeable" through socialisation, "nor does it have to be changed."With...