![The German Synodal Way: Will it Change Church Teaching to “Include” Homosexuals? Pope Francis has convoked a “Synod on Synodality” in Rome during October. Many faithful Catholics have expressed concern as the Synod’s promoters have proposed severe and potentially destructive changes to the Church’s structures and teachings. The following article, adapted from the recently published book, The Synodal Process Is a Pandora’s Box, discusses changes to Catholic Moral Teaching by Germany’s Synodal Way. Synodaler Weg means Synodal Way. It is the particular way the Catholic Church in Germany has chosen to adapt to synodality, independently of the universal Synod, anticipating it and even surpassing Rome’s orientations. Its call for radical change can be found in a preparatory document for the Weg that states: “We are convinced that the reorientation of pastoral ministry will not be possible without a substantial reshuffle of the Church’s sexual doctrine…In particular, the doctrine that considers sexual intercourse ethically legitimate only in the context of a lawful marriage and only in permanent openness to procreating offspring has led to a widespread rupture between the magisterium and the faithful.”[note]Der Synodale Weg, “Leben in gelingenden Beziehungen - Grundlinien einer erneuerten Sexualethik,” p. 2, accessed Jun. 21, 2023, https://www.synodalerweg.de/fileadmin/Synodalerweg/Dokumente_Reden_Beitraege/SV-IV/SV-IV_Synodalforum-IV-Grundtext-Lesung2.pdf.[/note] Likewise, another Weg document states, Same-sex sexuality—also realized in sexual acts—is therefore not a sin that is punished by God and is not to be deemed intrinsically evil… In the course of this re-evaluation of homosexuality, among other things, passages 2357—2359 as well as 2396 (homosexuality and chastity) of the Catechism[of the Catholic Church] should be revised…“Homosexual acts” must be removed from the list of “grave sins against chastity.”[note]Der Synodale Weg, “Handlungstext—Lehramtliche Neubewertung von Homosexualität,” pp. 4–5, accessed Jun. 21, 2023, https://www.synodalerweg.de/fileadmin/Synodalerweg/Dokumente_Reden_Beitraege/beschluesse-broschueren/SW8-Handlungstext_LehramtlicheNeubewertungvonHomosexualitaet_2022.pdf.[/note] Yet another document is very clear: “One of the tasks of the Synod would be to develop a new view of homosexuality and same-sex relationships and to work toward an opening.”[note]Der Synodale Weg, “First Synodal Assembly, Jan. 30–Feb. 1, 2020, Frankfurt,” p. 16, accessed Jun. 21, 2023, https://www.synodalerweg.de/fileadmin/Synodalerweg/Dokumente_Reden_Beitraege/Synodalversammlung-I-Protokoll.pdf.[/note] Others Support the German Position Luxembourg Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich, relator general of the October Synod, agrees. He declared that the Church’s doctrine on homosexual relations is “false” and must, therefore, be changed because “the sociological-scientific foundation of such teaching is no longer correct.”[note] “I believe that this is false. But I also believe that here we are thinking further about the teaching. So, as the Pope has said in the past, this can lead to a change in teaching. “So I believe that the sociological-scientific foundation of this teaching is no longer correct.” (Simon Caldwell, “Cardinal Hollerich: Church Teaching on Gay Sex Is ‘False’ and Can Be Changed,” The Catholic Herald, Feb. 3, 2022, https://catholicherald.co.uk/cardinal-hollerich-church-teaching-on-gay-sex-is-false-and-can-be-changed/)[/note] Get the book now! The Synodal Process Is a Pandora’s Box is now available for $10.95. Click here to get your copy now. Other bishops’ conferences share this opinion. For example, some French bishops recently asked the pope to have the Catechism of the Catholic Church modified to not condemn homosexual acts as “intrinsically disordered” and “contrary to the natural law.” The French Bishops’ Conference has designated a commission of theologians to study reformulating the doctrine on this subject.[note]See Solène Tadié, “‘Several’ French Bishops Ask Pope to Reformulate Catholic Doctrine on Homosexuality,” National Catholic Register, Mar. 13, 2023, https://www.ncregister.com/blog/some-french-bishops-ask-pope-to-reformulate-doctrine.[/note] Weg Promoters Propose Replacing Church Moral Doctrine Weg promoters propose a new approach to sexual morality. It should be based no longer on divine and natural law but on the self-perception of one’s responsibility toward others. Prof. Thomas Söding, vice president of the Synodaler Weg, writes: “The solution to the problem lies in redefining the relationship between personality and sexuality in Church teaching…Individual responsibility increases, combined with social tolerance and acceptance by the Church, which clearly defines when there is abuse [invasive behavior] and when human rights and dignity are attacked. But the Church also defines sexual self-determination and responsibility concerning others and oneself without spying on [people’s] sexual practices.”[note]Thomas Söding, Gemeinsam unterwegs: Synodalität in der katholischen Kirche (Ostfildern, Germany: Matthias Grünewald Verlag, 2022), 271–72.[/note] Other Calls for “Including” Homosexuals? Almost all concluding documents of the synodal journey’s continental stages (Continental Syntheses) explicitly mention the need to include LGBT persons. Moreover, high-ranking prelates have taken a similar line. For example, as already mentioned, Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich, relator general of the Synod, believes that changing the Church’s teaching on homosexuality is necessary. Get the book now! The Synodal Process Is a Pandora’s Box is now available for $10.95. Click here to get your copy now. For his part, Cardinal Robert McElroy, bishop of San Diego, argues that the universal Synod is the right occasion to examine some Church doctrines, including the question of women’s ordination to the priesthood. However, his main focus is on the “radical inclusion of LGBT people.” For the Californian cardinal, the Church’s distinction between persons of homosexual orientation who abstain from sinning and those who sin by committing homosexual acts is pastorally inconvenient as it divides the community about receiving Holy Communion and actively participating in Church life. All LGBT persons should be included based on the “dignity of every person as a child of God” without making the distinctions the Church makes.[note]Raymond J. de Souza, “Cardinal McElroy’s Attack on Church Teachings on Sexuality Is a Pastoral Disaster,” National Catholic Register, Jan. 26, 2023, https://www.ncregister.com/commentaries/cardinal-mcelroy-s-attack-on-church-teachings-on-sexuality-is-a-pastoral-disaster.[/note] [facebook-page-plugin href="Tradition.Family.Property.TFP/" width="400" cover="false" facepile="false" cta="false" small="true" adapt="true" link="true" linktext="Click Here to Like Traditional Values" lang="en_US" ] Photo Credit: © sborisov – stock.adobe.com](https://www.returntoorder.org/content/uploads/2023/10/The-German-Synodal-Way-Will-it-Change-Church-Teaching-to-Include-Homosexuals-300.jpg)
Pope Francis has convoked a “Synod on Synodality” in Rome during October. Many faithful Catholics have expressed concern as the Synod’s promoters have proposed severe and potentially destructive changes to the Church’s structures and teachings. The following article, adapted from the recently published book, The Synodal Process Is a Pandora’s Box, discusses changes to Catholic Moral … Read more
Concerns over preserving the integrity of the Catholic faith in light of the Synod on Synodality are being highlighted, with prelates already beginning to practically reject doctrine while facing no censure from the Vatican. In recent weeks, a German prelate made a lengthy announcement that had moderately little impact in the English-speaking Catholic news circles. … Read more
October 2, 2023—On the eve of the Synod on Synodality in Rome, five Cardinals have released a notification to Christ’s Faithful of a new set of dubia to express their concerns about matters of doctrine and discipline that are causing confusion and perplexity. The dubia or doubts to be resolved respectfully ask the Holy Father … Read more
Pope Francis has convoked a Synod on Synodality, which will convene in Rome this coming October. Many concerned Catholics have been left wondering what synodality is and where it will lead the Church. The following article from the recently published book The Synodal Process Is a Pandora’s Box strives to answer this key question. On … Read more
Pope Francis has convoked a “Synod on Synodality,” which will convene in Rome this coming October. Many faithful Catholics have expressed concern as the Synod’s promoters have proposed severe and potentially destructive changes to the Church’s structure. Synod leaders have repeatedly expressed their desire to discuss “church reform.” The following article, taken from the recently … Read more
One thing that characterizes the coming Synod of Synodality is its emphasis on listening to other voices. All voices. Catholics are told that “the spirit” speaks through all who are marginalized and excluded. Thus, listening to the widest variety of voices is necessary. In becoming a listening church, the “people of God” can “walk together” … Read more
“Holy Father, this Synod is arousing much interest. Unfortunately, it also arouses a lot of criticism. I am referring to a book with a prologue by Cardinal Burke that says the Synod will be a Pandora’s box from which all kinds of calamities will come out for the Church. What do you think of this … Read more
Concerned Catholics from across southern Pennsylvania gathered on September 8 for a special talk on October’s Synod on Synodality in Rome. The American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family, Property (TFP) and its America Needs Fatima campaign sponsored the event at the TFP headquarters near York, which included a book launching and pizza dinner. … Read more
Concerned Catholics from all over the Houston area gathered on August 28 for a special talk on October’s Synod on Synodality in Rome. Tradition, Family, Property (TFP) and America Needs Fatima sponsored the event at the downtown Coronado Club, which included a book launching and reception. TFP Vice President John Horvat delivered the talk “How … Read more
Pope Francis has convoked a “Synod on Synodality,” which will convene in Rome this coming October. Many faithful Catholics have expressed concern over the coming synod, as its promoters have proposed severe and potentially destructive changes to the Church’s structure. Synod leaders have repeatedly expressed their desire to discuss “inclusion.” The following article, taken from … Read more
