Bishop Georg Bätzing Archives

Vatican Letter Critical of Pro-LGBTQ+ German Catholics Escalates Tensions

December 4, 2023/1 Comment/in Hierarchy, Marriage & Family, Parish Life & Pastoral Care, Pope Francis, Synod on Synodality, Theology & Church Teaching /by Robert Shine, Managing Editor

The conflict between German Catholics and the Vatican has reached a new low. The Vatican released a letter criticizing the German church, specifically about has and women's ordination, while one top bishop forcefully defended the German faithful's efforts. Read More

How Are Synod Assembly Participants on LGBTQ+ Issues? — Part I

July 12, 2023/0 Comments/in Anti-LGBTQ Criminalization, Gender Identity, Hierarchy, Marriage & Family, Parish Life & Pastoral Care, Politics & Human Rights, Same-Gender Blessings, Schools & Youth, Synod on Synodality, Theology & Church Teaching, Uncategorized /by Robert Shine, Managing Editor

This week, New Ways Ministry is announcing a new resource that documents the LGBTQ-related records, good and bad, of Synod assembly participants to help understand how this conversation about inclusion and equality might proceed. Read More

German Diocese Issues Remarkably LGBTQ-Positive Guidelines for Sex Education

January 24, 2023/5 Comments/in Employment Issues, Gender Identity, Gender Policies, Healthcare, Hierarchy, Marriage & Family, Parish Life & Pastoral Care, Same-Gender Blessings, Schools & Youth, Theology & Church Teaching /by Robert Shine, Managing Editor

A German diocese has released new guidelines on sex education that are remarkably LGBTQ-positive, including an appreciation of diverse sexual identities and an opening blessing same-gender couples. Read More

Catholic LGBTQ+ Advocates Respond Positively to Vatican’s New Synod Document

November 2, 2022/1 Comment/in Hierarchy, Marriage & Family, Parish Life & Pastoral Care, Synod on Synodality, Theology & Church Teaching /by Robert Shine, Managing Editor

Catholic LGBTQ+ advocates have responded positively to the Vatican's latest document on the Synod released last week, praising church officials for reflecting a real style of listening and humility in it. Read More

Church’s Homosexuality Teaching Needs “Clear Adjustment,” Writes German Lay Leader

July 27, 2022/2 Comments/in Employment Issues, Hierarchy, Marriage & Family, Parish Life & Pastoral Care, Same-Gender Blessings, Synod on Synodality, Theology & Church Teaching /by Robert Shine, Managing Editor

The head of Germany's largest lay association has written that the church needs a "clear adjustment" in its teachings on homosexuality, coming the same week the Vatican issued further criticism of that nation's Synodal Way process. Read More

Top German Bishop “Firmly Convinced” Church Teachings on Homosexuality Will Change

May 25, 2022/3 Comments/in Hierarchy, Marriage & Family, Parish Life & Pastoral Care, Pope Francis, Same-Gender Blessings, Theology & Church Teaching /by Robert Shine, Managing Editor

A top German bishop has said he is "firmly convinced" that church teachings on homosexuality and same-gender blessings will change, while expressing disappointment in some of Pope Francis' reform efforts. Read More

German Bishop Defends Synodal Way

April 27, 2022/7 Comments/in Hierarchy, Theology & Church Teaching, Uncategorized /by Robert Shine, Managing Editor

A top bishop in Germany is defending that country's Synodal Way after dozens of bishops published an open letter critical of the process, which has been quite LGBTQ-positive in draft documents. Read More

LGBTQ Church Workers in Germany Explain Why They Participate in #OutInChurch

March 10, 2022/1 Comment/in Employment Issues, Hierarchy, LGBTQ Clergy & Religious, Marriage & Family, Parish Life & Pastoral Care, Same-Gender Blessings, Theology & Church Teaching /by Robert Shine, Managing Editor

LGBTQ church workers in Germany continue to explain their participation in #OutInChurch, an initiative in which 125 such workers publicly came out in a call for non-discrimination. Today's post features two such workers, as well as other news updates from the German church. Read More

In Germany, Synodal Way Approves Text that Seeks Blessings for LGBTQ Couples

October 7, 2021/2 Comments/in Hierarchy, Marriage & Family, Parish Life & Pastoral Care, Same-Gender Blessings, Theology & Church Teaching, Uncategorized /by Robert Shine, Managing Editor

German Catholics took their next steps in the Synodal Way with the second assembly last weekend that included approval of a text which speaks positively about LGBTQ people and calls for the church to bless their relationships. Read More

Blessing Same-Gender Couples Is Matter of Conscience for Priests, Says German Bishop

May 5, 2021/2 Comments/in Employment Issues, Hierarchy, Marriage & Family, Parish Life & Pastoral Care, Same-Gender Blessings, Uncategorized /by Robert Shine, Managing Editor

Ahead of planned blessings for same-gender couples on May 10th, a German bishop has said priests and pastoral ministers must follow their consciences on whether to participate. Another bishop in Germany, however, has expressed his concerns about the upcoming blessings action. Read More

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