German Synodal Way

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Bishop Georg Bätzing at the German bishops’ spring meeting in February 2021. Credit: Sascha Steinbach/epa pool.

German bishops' president responds to letter warning of schism risk in synodal path

Apr 16, 2022

By CNA Staff

Bishop Georg Bätzing of Limburg, president of the German bishops’ conference, responded Thursday to a letter warning the country’s synodal... Read more

Cardinal Kurt Koch, president of the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity, was interviewed by EWTN on April 14, 2022.

Top Vatican cardinal: 'Legitimate concerns' about Germany's 'Synodal Path'

Apr 15, 2022

By CNA Staff

Cardinal Kurt Koch has confirmed Pope Francis’ apprehension about Germany’s “Synodal Path,” telling EWTN in an exclusive interview that critics... Read more

Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone

Cordileone on signing letter to German bishops: ‘Christ’s teaching is timeless’

Apr 13, 2022

By CNA Staff

“The teaching of Christ is timeless. It's not bound by any one generation, any one time or culture,” Archbishop Salvatore... Read more

Catholic bishops

Bishops sign letter warning that Germany's 'Synodal Path' could lead to schism

Apr 12, 2022

By CNA Staff

An 'open letter' circulating among the world's bishops criticizes Germany's ongoing "Synodal Path" process for looking at the Church and... Read more

Bishop Georg Bätzing at the closing press conference of the spring plenary meeting of the German bishops’ conference.

German Catholic bishops’ leader replies to Nordic bishops’ ‘Synodal Way’ critique

Apr 5, 2022

By CNA Staff

The Nordic bishops cautioned against ‘capitulation to the Zeitgeist.’ Read more

Archbishop Stanisław Gądecki meets with Pope Francis at the Vatican, March 28, 2022.

Polish Catholic bishops’ leader tells Pope Francis about German ‘Synodal Way’ concerns

Mar 28, 2022

By CNA Staff

‘Francis distances himself from this initiative,’ the Polish bishops’ conference said. Read more

Bishop Georg Bätzing and Archbishop Stanisław Gądecki.

German Catholic bishops’ leader responds to Polish archbishop’s ‘Synodal Way’ criticisms

Mar 24, 2022

By CNA Staff

Bishop Bätzing said he sought a ‘real theological exchange’ with Archbishop Gądecki. Read more

Cardinal Anders Arborelius of Stockholm at a consistory in St. Peter’s Basilica on June 28, 2017.

Nordic Catholic bishops: German ‘Synodal Way’ fills us with worry

Mar 10, 2022

By CNA Staff

The bishops cautioned against ‘capitulation to the Zeitgeist.’ Read more

Archbishop Stanisław Gądecki and Bishop Georg Bätzing.

Polish Catholic bishops’ leader expresses ‘fraternal concern’ over German ‘Synodal Way’

Feb 22, 2022

By CNA Staff

Archbishop Stanisław Gądecki questioned whether the initiative was rooted in the Gospel. Read more

Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich, Archbishop of Luxembourg, at the Vatican, Oct. 5, 2019.

Can Cardinal Hollerich help to reconcile the German ‘Synodal Way’ with the global synodal process?

Feb 10, 2022

By Andrea Gagliarducci

A working group is bringing together leaders of the two initiatives. Read more

The third Synodal Assembly of the ‘Synodal Way’ in Frankfurt, Germany, on Feb. 4, 2022.

German ‘Synodal Way’ meeting ends with call for same-sex blessings, change to Catechism on homosexuality

Feb 7, 2022

By CNA Staff

The votes came on the third and final day of a meeting of the Synodal Assembly. Read more

‘Synodal Way’ flags fly in front of the Congress Center Messe Frankfurt in Germany.

German ‘Synodal Way’ members back text calling for women priests

Feb 4, 2022

By CNA Staff

The appeal passed by 174 votes in favor, 30 against, and 6 abstentions. Read more

The ‘Synodal Way’ began Dec. 1, 2019.

'Is a new Reformation dawning in Germany?' Initiative writes to bishops around the world

Feb 3, 2022

By CNA Staff

As the opening assembly of the Synodal Way is taking place in Germany, the “New Beginning” initiative has warned of... Read more

Bishop Rudolf Voderholzer speaks at a press conference on June 22, 2020.

German Catholic bishop criticizes delay in Synodal Way gender-neutral language debate

Jan 12, 2022

By CNA Staff

Bishop Rudolf Voderholzer said: ‘I protest against this approach.’ Read more

Pope Francis’ general audience in the Paul VI Hall at the Vatican, Jan. 5, 2021.

Pope Francis receives manifesto challenging German ‘Synodal Way’

Jan 5, 2022

By CNA Staff

The pope was presented with the document after his general audience. Read more

Irme Stetter-Karp, the new president of the Central Committee of German Catholics.

Influential German Catholic lay group elects new leader

Nov 19, 2021

By CNA Staff

Irme Stetter-Karp succeeds the high-profile Thomas Sternberg. Read more

Cardinal Walter Kasper.

Cardinal Kasper: Synodal Way’s ‘original sin’ was to set aside evangelization

Nov 9, 2021

By CNA Staff

The theologian said that the Synodal Way had ‘made itself a farce of a synod.’ Read more

Thomas Sternberg and Bishop Georg Bätzing at the Synodal Way’s second Synodal Assembly in Frankfurt, Germany, Sept. 30, 2021.

‘Synodal Way’ members back proposal promoting evangelization after voting mix-up

Oct 1, 2021

By CNA Staff

Organizers initially said that the motion was rejected. Read more

Bishop Rudolf Voderholzer of Regensburg.

German Catholic bishop suggests ‘Synodal Way’ is using abuse crisis to reshape Church

Sep 30, 2021

By CNA Staff

The Synodal Way’s supreme decision-making body meets on Sept. 30-Oct. 2. Read more