The bishops of Germany, reacting to an independent study of the extent of clerical sexual abuse in their country and its possible causes, chose to initiate a “synodal” process that was not a Synod or a plenary council. Building on a series of “listening sessions” the bishops held from 2011 to 2015, “we did not choose a Synod because it would take too long,” and the sex abuse study called for a rapid response. So “we have chosen something sui generis: The synodal way,” said Matthias Kopp, spokesman for the conference.

The entire bishops’ conference is to discuss the final plans for the process when the bishops meet on Sept. 23-26 in Fulda.