Pope Francis on Thursday attacked the leadership of the Catholic Church in Germany, reminding the faithful in the country that German bishops do not have the authority to spread new theology or change church governance. The announcement was made public by the Supreme Court on Thursday morning. In the message, the pope expressed concern for Germany’s laity and clergy if their leaders violate established church teaching. The statement claimed that Catholics would be adversely affected by the many proposed changes in the church pushed by Cardinal Reinhard Marx and other liberal German leaders on their “Conciliar Path”. The “Synodical Path” — sometimes called the “Synodical Way” — is a controversial church commission in Germany. The session, organized by the German Bishops’ Conference and the Central Committee of German Catholics, aims to discuss and examine four loose topics: sexual ethics, the structure of church governance, the role of women in the church and the vocation of the priesthood. POPE SAYS SOCIETY DOESN’T ‘KNOW HOW TO LIVE’ WITH GROWING ELDERLY CITIZENS “In order to protect the freedom of the People of God and the exercise of the episcopal ministry, it would be necessary to clarify that the ‘Synodical Way’ in Germany does not have the power to force bishops and the faithful to adopt new ways. of governance and new approaches to doctrine and morals,” the announcement of the Holy See states. “Prior to an agreed understanding at the level of the ecumenical Church, it would not be permissible to start new official structures or doctrines in the dioceses, which would represent a wound for ecclesial communion and a threat to the unity of the Church.” Pope Francis is helped by his aide Monsignor Leonardo Sapienza, left, as he walks with a cane to his weekly general audience in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican on June 1, 2022. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia, File) Marx, who chaired the committee, has tabled proposals to change teachings on homosexuality, marriage, masturbation, female priests and others that conflict with the Catechism of the Catholic Church. A major change in the German Church’s governance or belief system could push it into a schism with the Holy See, resulting in its separation from the Catholic Church. Such a conflict could prove disastrous for both German Catholics and the Catholic Church in general — thanks to the government’s longstanding “church tax,” the Catholic Church in Germany is perhaps the wealthiest branch of the institution. Earlier this year, more than 100 bishops from around the world issued an open letter to German bishops calling on them to stop the synod and refrain from making illegal changes. POPE FRANCIS DESCRIBES PRESSURES OF POPE: “SOMETIMES, YOU FEEL NUT” Pope Francis has struggled to balance his firm grip on Catholic hierarchy and defense of church teaching with his expressed openness to evolving non-dogmatic Catholic traditions. Cardinal Reinhard Marx, Archbishop of Munich and president of the German Bishops’ Conference, celebrates the opening mass of the conference at the cathedral in Fulda, Germany, on September 25, 2018. (ARNE DEDERT/DPA/AFP via Getty Images) Individual Catholic churches — sometimes called “particular churches” — retain their own bishops and leaders. These regional church leaders are generally expected to act autonomously and handle their own affairs without direct action from the pope. But Pope Francis has been quick to rhetorically crack down on would-be reformers who risk ignoring Rome’s central authority over changes in teaching or governance. The Pope repeated this balancing act in his message to German Catholics. The statement about the German synod quotes a passage from Pope Francis’ “Letter to the Pilgrim People of God in Germany,” saying: “The Catholic Church lives in and through the particular Churches, just as the particular Churches live and flourish in and from If they are separated from the whole church body, they weaken, rot and die. Hence the need to always ensure that communion with the entire body of the Church is alive and effective.” The Bishop of Rome concluded the message with a plea for the “catholic” nature of the church and its need for global cooperation — the term “catholic” being Greek for “universal.” Pope Francis wrote: “It is therefore hoped that the proposals of the Way of the Special Churches in Germany will converge with the synodical way followed by the universal Church, for the mutual enrichment and witness of this unity by which the body of the Church manifests its fidelity to Christ the Lord”. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Pope Francis’ episcopal philosophy has become more complex than ever, as the leader once considered a staunch progressive has become harder to categorize. The pontiff recently chose to appoint women to the Court of Bishops for the first time in history, including two religious sisters and the head of several Catholic women’s organizations. He was notable for exhorting mercy and compassion for gay, lesbian and transgender Catholics, declaring that all were children of God and deserved respect. However, he refused to support any form of same-sex marriage in the church, citing the institution as a sacrament that cannot be changed. Pope Francis has also refused to meddle in US politics, ignoring demands from members of the Catholic Church that he specifically excommunicate President Biden and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who both claim to be Catholic despite supporting pro-rights policies. abortions. The pope blasted the president’s views as “nonsense” and told him to seek guidance from his pastor, but has still hosted both Biden and Pelosi at the Vatican several times. Timothy Nerozzi is a writer for Fox News Digital. You can follow him on Twitter @timothynerozzi and email him at [email protected]
