German Bishops Conference Archives

German Bishops Appoint New National Commissioner for LGBTQ+ Pastoral Care

March 8, 2024/0 Comments/in Gender Identity, Hierarchy, Marriage & Family, Parish Life & Pastoral Care, Same-Gender Blessings, Schools & Youth /by Robert Shine, Managing Editor

In the German church's latest move for LGBTQ+ inclusion, the country's bishops' conference has appointed a prelate to lead queer pastoral care efforts. Read More

German Bishops Approve Employment Law Reforms to Protect LGBTQ+ Church Workers

November 30, 2022/2 Comments/in Employment Issues, Gender Identity, Hierarchy, LGBTQ Clergy & Religious, Marriage & Family, Parish Life & Pastoral Care, Politics & Human Rights /by Sarah Cassidy

The German bishops have reformed church employment policies to recommend that church workers in same-gender relationships or who are divorced and remarried should not lose their jobs because of personal situations. Read More

German Bishops Welcome LGBTQ Church Employees’ #OutInChurch Initiative

January 28, 2022/1 Comment/in Employment Issues, Hierarchy, LGBTQ Clergy & Religious, Politics & Human Rights, Theology & Church Teaching /by Robert Shine, Managing Editor

Church leaders in Germany, including a number of bishops, have expressed their welcome of the #OutInChurch initiative, in which 125 LGBTQ church workers publicly came out in a call for non-discrimination protections. Read More

Bishop Open to Church Blessings for LGBTQ Couples Elected Head of German Conference

April 4, 2020/6 Comments/in Gender Identity, Hierarchy, Higher Education, Marriage & Family, Parish Life & Pastoral Care, Theology & Church Teaching, Uncategorized /by Robert Shine, Managing Editor

Today's post features three LGBTQ-related developments in the German church, including the election to the bishops conference there of a pro-LGBTQ president. Read More

German Bishops Affirm Homosexuality as “Normal,” Acknowledge Queer Relationships as “Hot Topic”

December 12, 2019/5 Comments/in Hierarchy, Marriage & Family, Parish Life & Pastoral Care, Theology & Church Teaching, Uncategorized /by Robert Shine, Managing Editor

After sponsoring a consultation on human sexuality, Germany's bishops issued a statement in which they said church teaching against same-gender sexual activity was a "hot topic" and affirmed homosexuality as a "normal" part of human development. Read More

Attempts to Clarify Cardinal’s Remarks on Blessings for Gay Couples Only Adds to Confusion

February 11, 2018/5 Comments/in Hierarchy, Marriage & Family, Parish Life & Pastoral Care /by Robert Shine, Managing Editor

Attempts to clarify remarks by a German cardinal that seemed to indicate his support for the blessing of same-gender relations have only added to the confusion. Read More