Defiant German bishops claim that Pope Francis is backing them in their rebellion against Church teaching on homosexuality, women’s ordination and the abolition of priestly celibacy.
A pastoral worker blesses a homosexual couple in Germany
“The Holy Father made it clear to us that tension is necessary,” Bp. Georg Bätzing, president of the German Bishops’ Conference, told reporters in Rome on Saturday at the conclusion of the prelates’ ad limina visit to the Vatican.
“The audience with Pope Francis encouraged us,” Bätzing maintained, explaining that the pontiff “also spoke of the tension he experiences and the fact that courage and patience are needed to find a solution.”
“Our discussions in Rome were tough but civil, and we sensed that dialogue can – and indeed did – succeed in this way,” the recalcitrant prelate insisted. “I am also grateful that the worries and opinions of our bishops’ conference on the full range of topics were heard.”
Bätzing told the press conference he remained firm on offering blessings to homosexual couples and would “not take away the possibility for same-sex couples who believe and ask for God’s blessing to be blessed.”
The 62 German bishops also met with various dicasteries of the Roman curia to defuse the escalating saber-rattling over the German Synodal Way, which has declared its approval of homosexual relationships, female deacons and married priests.
A joint statement released by the German bishops and the Vatican said that Cdl. Marc Ouellet, prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, and Cdl. Luis Ladaria, prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, “had expressed reservations regarding the methodology, content and proposals of the Synodal Path.”