German Synodal Way
The Latest
Controversial German Synodal Committee to meet this weekend
The German Synodal Committee meets this weekend without four bishops, who will not participate due to the Vatican’s warning that... Read more
Church in Germany pushes toward a national synodal body
At a meeting Dec. 13–14 in Wiesbaden, delegates discussed drafting the composition of a body that initially was proposed to... Read more
4 German bishops praise Rome synod, criticize German Synodal Way
The statement of the four bishops said “the goals of the German Synodal Way and the global Church process of... Read more
400,000 Germans quit Catholic Church as talks between Vatican, Synodal Way continue
The meeting on Friday resulted in Rome demanding the Germans change the name of the body and agree it cannot... Read more
German Catholics write letter to Rome over Synodal Way, warn of ‘serious scandal’
A Catholic committee has turned to the Vatican in an attempt to avoid a permanent Synodal Council to oversee the... Read more
German priests do not support Synodal Way, new study finds
The study, officially titled “Who Becomes a Priest?”, found that priests are “alienated from the concerns of Church reform,” lead... Read more
Four German bishops resist push to install permanent ‘Synodal Council’
The four bishops, including Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki of Cologne, instead appealed for unity with the universal Church. Read more
Cardinal Grech’s controversial comments add to list of concerns on postsynodal study groups
The Maltese cardinal stated in a recent interview that a female diaconate would not be a “revolution” but a “natural... Read more
Synodal standoff: German bishops and Vatican commit to resolution roadmap
The Vatican and the German bishops have announced they will work together to resolve the controversial German Synodal Way. Read more
German bishops to discuss Synodal Way with Vatican amid controversy
A delegation of German bishops is expected in Rome this Friday for talks with the Vatican about the German Synodal... Read more
German bishops halt move toward establishing a Synodal Council at Vatican’s request
The bishops were poised to vote on the matter at their upcoming plenary assembly Feb. 19–22. Read more
German Catholics ask bishops to reconsider Synodal Way plans
Ahead of a high-stakes gathering of the German bishops next Monday, a lay group warned the prelates of moving “further... Read more
Critics challenge German Synodal Way in light of abuse study
A new study looking at survivors of abuse within the Evangelical Church in Germany calls into doubt the narrative that... Read more
Dutch bishops offer cautious response to Vatican blessing guidance, bucking regional trend
The bishops emphasized that any blessings should help people “live in accordance with [God’s] intentions for the creation of man... Read more
Cardinal Fernández: Vatican’s same-sex blessings guidance is ‘clear answer’ to German bishops
Members of the controversial German Synodal Way overwhelmingly approved developing formalized ritual texts for same-sex blessings in March 2023. Read more
TIMELINE: What has the Catholic Church said about same-sex ‘blessings’?
Here’s a timeline of how the controversy over same-sex blessings has unfolded. Read more
German bishop says divisions within local Church are a ‘disaster for the faithful’
Bishop Stefan Oster did not shy away from identifying profound theological disagreements as the source of division within the Church... Read more
Confronting controversy: German-Polish bishops’ dialogue highlights synodal way tensions
A public dispute between the German Bishops’ Conference president and his Polish counterpart took another turn on Monday. Read more
Vatican draws line on women’s ordination and homosexuality in new letter to German bishops
The letter also warned of potential disciplinary consequences for anyone defying Church teaching. Read more
The Vatican’s statements on the German Synodal Way: a timeline
Tuesday was not the first time Pope Francis and the Vatican have expressed reservations about the German Synodal Way. Read more
