Papal Dressing Down of the German Bishops: German Church Not the Most Progressive, But Most Desolate

Ad Limina Visit of the German Bishops with Pope
Francis

(Rome) In the Catholic Church there is a conflict over the demand to give  Communion to the divorced and remarried. There is also uncertainty about what Pope Francis will present in his Post-Synodal Exhortation. According to the published opinion of the secular media the "German group" has prevailed at the Synod of Bishops last October, led by Cardinal Walter Kasper. In their ad limina - Visit of November 20 Pope Francis, however, told the German bishops, however, that their church was not "the most progressive, but the most desolate," as the Vatican expert Sandro Magister reports.

The German bishops, received a stern dressing down by the Pope:

- He lamented the lack of a "Catholic profile" in charitable institutions and Catholic schools.

- He deplored the decline in Mass attendance and the disappearance of the Sacrament of Penance.

- He blamed that there are  "always new structures" created for fewer and fewer believers.

- He exhorted the bishops to be "teachers of the faith" who "pass it down and live it in the living community of the universal Church."

- He recalled that in the parishes "the valuable work by lay faithful are not a substitute for the priestly ministry or should this make it appear even as a mere option," because "there is no Eucharist without a priest".

- He called for the "unconditional protection of life  from the moment of conception until natural death" because "we can not compromise here without even we ourselves becoming guilty of participating in the throwaway culture".

Out of Control communion for divorced and remarried was not an issue

A single question was not addressed by Pope Francis, however said Master: "The communion for the divorced and remarried, which is  now is a common practice in Germany that is accepted de facto by many bishops and regardless of   what was said at the Synod of Bishops and without  waiting which operative decisions of the Pope touch on it, as it requires." 

Communion to the divorced and remarried is spreading rapidly in some areas "It's a phenomenon that is getting out of control," says Magister, "without Rome, which had instigated this process, issuing any statement." 

Text: Giuseppe Nardi
Picture: CR

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

Link to Katholisches...

AMDG

Great Support for the Appeal to Pope Francis -- Little Resonance for the Synod Questionnaire of the German Bishops

(Rome) More than 225,000 Catholics have been greeting the upcoming Synod of Bishops by signing an appeal to Pope Francis on the future of the family. Among the signatories, the contact with "concerns and hopes about the future of the family" are  Catholic Church leaders, including four cardinals, 21 archbishops and bishops and numerous Catholic personalities from church, politics, science and social issues. The appeal is an appeal and invitation to Pope Francis, for "a clarifying of words" against the "general confusion"  that was caused by hints and announcements: "In fact, we could see a general perplexity, because of the possibility that in the bosom of Church, a breach was torn, which would allow a tolerance of adultery: The admission to the Eucharist of divorced and remarried couples and acceptance of homosexual partnerships, a state is produced which must be condemned categorically, because these are contrary to the commandments of God and the laws of nature."

"Unwholesome Winds of anti-Christian Lobbies"

The reason for the appeal was the course of the first part of the Synod of Bishops, which took place in October 2014: "Holy Father, on the basis of information that was disseminated on the occasion of the last Synod we had found with pain  that for many millions of believers the light of this seems to waver torch, triggered by the unwholesome winds of  the   anti-Christian lobby's championing of the lifestyle, puts it in the appeal, the under www.ergebenebitte.org was published in the English  (see also report International Appeal to the Pope on the Future of the Family ).

"Our fears arise from witnessing a decades-long sexual revolution promoted by an alliance of powerful organizations, political forces and the mass media that consistently work against the very existence of the family as the basic unit of society. Ever since the so-called May 1968 Sorbonne Revolution, a morality opposed to both Divine and natural law has been gradually and systematically imposed on us so implacably as to make it possible, for example, to teach the abhorrent “gender theory” to young children in many countries.

Catholic teaching on the Sixth Commandment of the Law of God shines like a beacon in face of this ominous ideological objective. This beacon attracts many people—overwhelmed by this hedonistic propaganda—to the chaste and fecund family model taught by the Gospel and in accordance with natural law."

Even in Germany, There is Little Response to the Questionnaire of the Synod of Bishops

Influential media, such as Le Figaro and La Croix in France reported on the great support for the appeal, while barely more responses have been received to the second questionnaire of the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops.  As was unofficially reported, for example in the diocese of Mainz Bishop Cardinal Karl Lehmann, there were only 21 replies. In the diocese of Essen of Bishop Franz-Josef Overbeck only 14. "This seems to be the basis of assertions that German Catholics were behind the anti-Roman positions of Cardinals Walter Kasper and Reinhard Marx," said Corrispenza Romana .

Among the first signatories of the appeal to Pope Francis is Jorge Arturo Cardinal Medina are, Janis Cardinal Pujats, Raymond Cardinal Burke, Archbishop John Paul Lenga, Bishop Athanasius Schneider, Archbishop Aldo di Cillo Pagotto, Archbishop Wolfgang Haas, Professor Josef Seifert, John-Henry West (LifeSiteNews), John Smeaton (Society for the Protection of the Unborn Child), James Bogle (Una Voce International), Thomas Ward (National Association of Catholic Families), Jean Pierre Maugendre (Renaissance Catholique), Slawomir Skiba (Polonia Christiana), Mathias von Gersdorff (Tradition, Family, Private Property - Germany), Robert Royal (Faith and Reason) and many, many others.

The appeal and the petition is supported by Katholisches.info [and it goes without saying, the translator of this article.]

Text: Giuseppe Nardi
Image: filialappeal.org
Trans: Tancred  vekron99@hotmail.com
Link to Katholisches...
AMDG

Quo Vadis: President of German Bishops' Council Wants to Give the Church to Prince of this World

Attempt to take stock after the Spring Plenary Meeting of the German Bishops' Conference. A kath.net commentary by Dr. Michael Schaefer to statements by Cardinal Marx and Bishop Bode

Hildesheim (kath.net) The German bishops and with them German Catholicism have stood against each other for many years in a growing tension. On one side is the felt the compulsion to defend Catholic doctrine within the meaning of the two previous Popes, and on the other hand, the desire to find a place for social development of the nation. This feeling of tension was reinforced by two other factors: one is the persistent depression in the face of accelerating and organizational measures barely glossing over the decline of Church life; on the other hand, the pressure of a predominantly 'reform-oriented' ecclesiastical system.

Ever since the introduction of the so-called dialogue process ("so-called" because it was played out with handpicked representatives of the ecclesiastical establishment largely behind closed doors) it became apparent that the willingness continue to bear the tension described, was on the wane. It suddenly become known by the two family synods in the world Church, that the question of divorced and remarried presented itself in the eyes of many bishops as the opportunity of a pastoral accommodation for one of the "hot potatoes" without making a too substantial shift from the teaching of the Church. It must have become all the harder after the Synod of last autumn in the insight tha a clear "yes" required for the proposed new features, as the promised majority (90% + x) of the world Church, was not possible.

With the Spring Plenary Assembly ended, the bishops have decided, and probably also irreversibly, started to take the bull by the horns. It is now clear that the German episcopate will take in the question of the divorced and remarried quite independently of the Synodal discussions in October in its own way. The battle cry of "We are not branches of Rome" can in make no room for interpretation in this matter.

The bishops should be clear that the "pastoral solution" to the question of the divorced and remarried can only be a beginning of the end for much of Catholic sexual morality. Because this is so in consideration of an oversized ball and chain for all those who want to be on equal footing with the surrounding society. Bishop Bode has with his notification on the necessary evaluation of cohabitation before marriage, a clear indication given that it - and certainly not just him - there there is a mandatory need for a program of increasing acceptance.

One would severely miss the importance of the meeting at Hildesheim, if they confined their views on the question of the divorced and remarried. Cardinal Marx (including obviously preeminent among the potential "dissident" bishops of Regensburg, Passau and Eichstätt) not only brought this issue forth with his brothers, but staged a coup in a major way. "The great history of Christianity is not behind us but before us" - this is not just a pithy statement, but an expression of a quite specific vision.

According to this vision it is from now on that Christianity will not come from the past, to read the tradition, but to design the future "experimentally". Faith cannot "be kept as a treasure", for the Church had rather take in view its upcoming world-historical mission: to be "useful for the unity of the human family." In the globalized world, it needs a religion that would bring together people from different backgrounds and to understand and moderate social tensions associated with the process of globalization. And no religion is better suited for this task than Christianity. "A globalized, universal church in a globalized world."

One can not deny the brilliance of this vision and the optimism with which it is presented.

The church that doesn't take itself too seriously, but is completely absorbed in the service of humanity - doesn't that sound wonderful? What role can it play faced by such tasks, yesterday the mood still hard pressing with facts about church attendance, lack of priests, etc?

The Church as an entirely positive, respectful, understanding, life-companion of individuals in small and humanity at large - does not cut through the Gordian knot of an ailing institution at a stroke? Can not the Church apparatus happily gather again behind its chiefs under this program? An inveterate Philistine who does not follow that and rejects the new epoch! And yet it is probably inevitable that the pathway outlined here is critically examined.

Will the morality of the Catholic Church really be disposed of so easily in questions of human sexuality? How much responsibility will be needed (according to Bishop Bode is now next to Scripture and Tradition as a further theological knowledge source!) Not to interfere with the "real life world of men"? And even if the program falls to the dregs (Fifty Shades of Grey salutations): who in this society is concerned that his sexual practice is calculated and approved by the Catholic Church?

Even more fundamentally, is the now constantly touted contrast between the dented and dirty Church, "out on the street" for the people and the Church, from "within" is thrilled with the pure, but ultimately useless truth would not be an arrant bugbear? Does not just their knowledge of the self stand based on this truth, the Church always enables them to be with us and fills them with a burning desire to bring these people from "outside" to "inside"? Is faith not yet a treasure and should it not be protected very well in a world, whose church assisted unity according to all experience violently opposes it? Can the Church still claim of itself to be the foundation established by the Lord Jesus Christ, if it does not quite specifically give the graces to the people who are entrusted to her alone, to whom the Lord entrusted them alone and whose charge wasn't just the membership of the human family, but is implied by the inclusion in the "Una Sancta"? Can they "live usefully" sub specie aetemitatis without recalling to the people every day, the hard evangelical truths of sin, justice, and to do penance?

And since when has the Church been at all interested in being part of "great historical moments?"

German Catholics will have to ask themselves whether they want to go with the upstream in the last days and the chosen path. Whether for the pottage of lentils, they will accept a "great future as a tool of the unity of the global human family" giving up the principle of the Apostle Paul, "tradidi quod et accepi - I have handed down to you what I have received."

Perhaps there are not so few who will come to the conclusion that: non possumus!

Dr. phil. Michael Schäfer was assistant of the Romano Guardini Chair of the LMU Munich and works in the management of a Stuttgart-based, international management consultancy. He leads the blog summa-summarum.blogspot.de

Link to Kath.net... Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com AMDG

Cardinal Joachim Meisner has Resigned -- Germany Will Miss His Voice -- Who Will His Successor Be?

(Cologne) Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of the Archbishop of Cologne, Cardinal Joachim Meisner. The 80 year old Silesian was born on 25 December  in 1933 in Breslau. He was as archbishop one  of the most influential figures of the Catholic Church in Germany for the past 45 years. Meisner was for a long while a bishop. First, as Auxiliary Bishop of Erfurt from 1980 to 1989. Bishop of the divided  Berlin, then at the request of Pope John Paul II, almost simultaneously with the collapse of the Communist dictatorship and the end of the GDR to the Archdiocese of Cologne. With Cologne, Meisner stood at the head of the largest and most influential diocese in German speaking countries. A bishop's seat, which was connected in the Holy Roman Empire with the electoral dignity. Cologne has been a Great archbishopric since the time of Charlemagne. The archbishops first elected the Holy Roman Emperor. Since the fall of the Old Kingdom of the bishop's throne is connected to the dignity of Cardinal, which is why they have chosen Popes ever since.

Meisner Could Never Form  German Church, But Constituted an Important Counterpoint

It would be an exaggeration if one were to say, Cardinal Meisner had left his stamp on the German Church. He succeeded only in part, to a lesser extent. He was part of the attempt of Pope John Paul II at the restoration of a Catholic Church, which showed signs of disintegration in the post-Conciliar period in the German language area. Cardinal Meisner was busy trying to fill holes and form a counterweight to the oppositional tendencies among the German bishops. That his weight was strong but not decisive, the elections showed the chairman of the German Bisschofskonferenz. An office which he never reached. A Meisner majoritywas never established  in the German Bishops' Conference. When choosing the Bishop of Mainz, Cardinal Karl Lehmann 1987, he would not have a say. Through the Wall, the East German Bishops were forced to organize themselves in the Berlin Conference of Bishops. In 2008, he had to accept Archbishop Robert Zollitsch of Freiburg, because he did not create a  strong minority.

Significant Elector for Pope Benedict XVI, Not for Francis

Nevertheless, Cardinal Meisner in recent decades under John Paul II and Benedict XVI. was a safe and reliable contact  in Rome. The choice of the German Pope, he had been jointly significant. Same does not apply to the election of Pope Saint Francis, which he showed clearly irritated immediately after the conclave.

Decline in Seas Becoming Stormy 

At the request of Benedict XVI. he remained significantly longer in office than is the case under Church law. He was the oldest active cardinal of the Catholic Church. By the end of 2008, he offered his resignation upon  reaching the age limit of 75 years for the first time. On Christmas Day 2013, he was 80 and was still a tower of strength. His departure takes place at a time where the the seas are truculent. Under Benedict XVI.   seemed to have been more calm  in the German Church. Cardinal Meisner was able to promote some of his auxiliary bishops to diocesan bishops. The resignation of Benedict and the election of Pope Francis showed that it had been a deceptive calm. Obviously progressive circles were resigned as a result of their marginalization. With the election of Argentine Pope they have scented morning air. Supposedly faithful bishops, even those that approached Meisner well-meaningly in office and dignity, even to the dignity of Cardinal, turn out to be disguised progressives. The German church shows a picture of disobedience and rebellion that is reminiscent of the time of the Second Vatican Council.

Stigma of the "Morning After" Pill Decision

Meisner himself took a controversial step, which overshadowed the end of his episcopate. A year ago, shortly before the resignation of Benedict XVI., he allowed hospitals in Catholic-run, at least one third of the entire Cologne hospital system, and Catholic doctors to dispense the morning-after pill. It was a unilateral decision that he secured its acceptance by the Bishops' Conference with a Machiavellian text. The morning after pill can also act as  an abortifacient. The opposite,  which Cardinal Meisner described, has not yet been confirmed by science.

Even in the Archdiocese of Cologne nothing desired by the Archbishop was put into effect. Under Pope Francis and in view of Meisner's age, some already ushered in the post-Meisner era. Meisner offered in many socio-political debates a safe reference point for Catholics and all people of good will. Meisner stood out from the other bishops also in that he knew how to speak in clear language. This was especially true after the untimely death of the Fulda Bishop Johannes Dyba.

Man of Clear Words Are Missing in Germany

Who will succeed him? Who will lead the most important German diocese, one of the largest dioceses in the world and, not least, one of the richest dioceses of the world church? A personal decision, which is of great importance for the German-speaking world, but also for the Universal Church. A decision that is entitled to Pope Francis.

It is hoped that Cardinal Meisner, as also the 80 year old Cardinal Walter Kasper, will prove to continue to raise his voice in the universal Church. One is related to the disposal of Cardinal Joachim Meisner fixed already: His voice is missing in Germany.

Text: Giuseppe Nardi
Image: La cigueña de la torre

The Atlas of Rebellion -- Bishop Huonder is in the Cross Hairs of Anti-Roman Critics

[Katholisches, Switzerland] A view to the map shows that the anti-Roman Rebelion in the Catholic Church is focused in the German speaking countries.  The interdependence of the successes in Austria, Switzerland and Germany are clear.  Ultimately, it consists, from a span of five hundred years, to the exact same constellation as in the time of the Reformation, which led to the schism of the Church.  It was also a schism of the German people and a weakening of the Holy Roman Empire in Central Europe from which it never recovered.

Opposition Began in 1990 Against Bishop Wolfgang Haas


Thus, the rebellious  Memorandists are found scattered throughout the German speaking countries. The targeting by the insurgents currently  of the Bishop of Chur by rebels is a deja vu . Already in 1990  Bishop Wolfgang Haas had a hard time after he was appointed by John Paul II.  The opposition to him within his diocese was so large that he was carried away in 1997 to the Principality of Liechtenstein, which was removed from the diocese of Chur and even elevated to an Archbishopric.  Monsignor Haas has since resided in Vaduz. The rank increase over Chur signaled the unwillingness of Rome to address the whole transaction. Meanwhile, the old episcopal city   governed by Msgr Huonder on the Upper Rhine is a successor of  Bishop Haas.



Lenten Letter of 2012 Incites an Uproar


The particularity of this largest Diocese of Switzerland, which included the center of the Rebellion against Rome in the 16th century,  consists in that it is directly controlled by the Holy See.  The 19th century concordat concluded between the Confederation and Rome envisioned this privilege, that the selection of the Bishop takes place as an agreement between the Cathedral Chapter and the Holy See.  The Pope has the deciding word.  This was confirmed on the 6th of July in 2007 as Benedict XVI named Msgr Vitus Huonder, against whom now, because of his Lenten Pastoral Letter, stands many of his own priests and pastoral assistants as well as politicized laity and theologians.   Since the secular media in a religiously divided country like Switzerland tend mostly towards confrontation in any case, and the "Catholic" media has succumbed to the zeitgeist, the Bishop has a lot to endure. The leading Swiss media have attacked the Pastoral Letter with uncustomary unanimity as "as much explosive as absurd" and Archbishop Hunder as "archconservative".  These catch words are true to other anti-Church campaigns.

Pastor Refuses Reading in "our" Churches

The Lenten Pastoral Letter went out to all Parishes -- as is usual -- which is supposed to be read at all Liturgies, contained a statement which many could not endure, many parish gentlemen concluded.     Divorced and remarried  are to be refused the Sacraments.  Huonder represents here nothing but Church teaching.    That the Catholic ideal which is exorbitantly and quantiatively contradicted in practice in Switzerland, is what makes Catholic teaching a "scandal" for the world.  Bishop Huonder has hammered the nail onn the head with this, because Christianity must e a scandal to the world and especially in this time.  The Chur Superior Shepherd invoked Jesus, who defined marriage as indissoluble.  The divorced, who through their own free will have decided to engage in a new relationship have put themselves in a situation, which makes it impossible for them to receive the Sacraments.  It is not the Church that refuses them, but they themselves throuogh their own decision.    Divorced and Seperated, who live alone, give a precious witness for the indissolubility of marriage, says Bishop Huonder.

The Media Swell Inner-Church Critics

The media pour oil in the fire and outdo themselves with attacks: "Huonder isolated", "Again with Huonder?"  "Controversial Pastoral Letter".  On 11th March 2012 the Neue Zurcher Zeitung wrote: "The Chur Bishop, Vitus Huonder wants to close the Sacraments to those who are remarried" and demonstrated how little they, in any case, liberal quality newspapers know or want to know about Catholic teaching.   Such a lack of precision would allow them little else.

They drive the protest which has been spreading divisions among the priests and laity.  Church was made into an outpost of anti-Roman rebellion over night, whose manifest center had been Austria and the Bundesrepublic of Germany until recently.  The protest went even further, according to the Press Speaker of the Diocese, Giuseppe Graci who explained the motives for Bishop Hunder's business once again for the press.

For the Pastor of the Winterthur, Catholic Teaching is "Inhuman"

Clearly this is only the initial inflammation for an uproar that had been long formed underground.  The first to protest was a pastor of Chur, who openly declared, that the Pastoral Letter will not be read in "our" churches.  "We are also distancing ourselves from the form and also the content of such Pastoral Letters", wrote the Dean and Pastor of Winterthur, Hugo Gehring and made himself the speaker for "a lot of pastoral assistants" in the region of Winterthur and the lowlands of Zurich.  According to his opinion it is "in the weight of our experience, inhuman and not inferable from the Christian message",  in order to appeal to all the divorced members of the Catholic Church, to remain unmarried.    A Catholic Pastor, who describes Catholic teaching as "inhuman", appears in any case to have missed "Society" and "vocation".

Bishop Haas was replaced  and the Conflict continued underground


No Pastoral Letter had ever before unleashed such opposition, not even in  Bishop Haas's time.  Not because Bishop Huonder's position is so outlandish, his message is the message of the Catholic Church.  The inner process of fermentation against Catholic teaching since the 90s, when Haas was "replaced", has taken on a new dimension.  On the part of the Bishop of Chur it was explained that the aggressiveness of the opposition are with Bishop Huonder's measures to strengthen the orthodoxy and fidelity to Rome in his Diocese, because of the impatience of the protestors awoke at the same time, with which it "distanced" from those parts of the doctrine as they openly declare themselves.

According to Christian reitschmid, Press Officer of the Vicariate, Bishop Huonder took up a hot iron and those provoked more opposition than encouragement.  "The discussion was heavy all week.  The media of the entire region reported on the Pastoral Letter".  Breitschmid heard prevailingly "very critical comments" from the pastors.  According to his estimation, the majority of the Pastors had not read the Pastoral Letter and engage in practices prescribed by Rome and are ready also to provide the sacraments to divorced and remarried persons.

Zurich Pastoral Council "Distanced" itself from the Catholic Teaching on Marriage and Promote the Abuse of the Sacrament


The Pastoral Council of Zurich wrote a breathless document in which it thanked  "all of the spiritual counselors, who helped those divorced and remarried to find their way in the Eucharistic Community of the Church".  It is an open front against the Bishop and against Rome.  The Pastoral Council promoted the spiritual counselor to even allow the remarried to Communion and the Sacraments.  In the writing of the Bishop, the Council overlooked the "law of charity", which is called for by the Gospels.  "Are we not all sinners?", asked the pastoral representative of Zurich.

The pastoral counselors of the Canton Nidwalder  decided in one voice, "that this Pastoral Letter will not be read during the Liturgy.  Instead of announcing the good news, as our mission would be, we would be causing discord, disquiet and protest, and that is even in persons,  who have a particular need for a word of encouragement."  The pastoral counselors of Nidwalden will in any case will continue to allow the sacraments for remarried divorced persons.  "For us it is important, to be open to everyone, and not to exclude anyone", so said the pastoral counselors of the Canton.

"Mercy" Versus Revelation?


In Switzerland Pastor Conrad Burri explained:  "To send everyone away who I know is remarried is absolutely unthinkable for me."  According to his opinion, every question has to coincide with his conscience, if he receives holy Communion or not "We priests can't judge that", says Burri.  He directs a polemical question to Bishop Huonder: "Where is the mercy toward the sinner in this directive?"

Bishops' Conference Feels Itself "Provoked" by Bishop Huonder


The Chief Shepherd of Church appears also to have hardly any support from the Bishops' Conference.  Kath.ch, the media portal of the Catholic Church, representing the Bishops' Conference entitled tellingly: "Vitus Huonder Provokes Bishops"  The Church Bishop "provoked" his colleagues, who also have themselves a dissenting opinion of the Catholic Catechism.  The "Initiative of Liberal Colleagues"  has confirmed rumors that have been circulating for months, that Bishops of the German language areas are pushing for a change in the "praxis" about remarried and divorced persons.

Bishop Huonder:  "Following the teaching of the Church means to be merficul"

In the newspaper Matin Dimanche and Sonntagzeitung, the Bishop of Chur clearly explained himself:  "The concern to direct  remarried and divorced to the teaching of the Church, means precisely to show mercy".  Unpretentiously, but firmly he defended his Pastoral Letter with the words:  "I simply and plainly present the teaching of the Church."

"It is my right and above all my duty,  to call to memory the fundamentals of the Church", says Bishop Huonder.  Rome is silent at present still, whiel the wind of rebellion in the German speaking zone pipes ever more strongly.  The Diocesan Bishops appear not to have found a strategy, as they proceed against anti-Catholic faction in their own ranks, which continues to undermine the "Catholic Church while still claiming the name.

Translated from Katholisches....

Rome: After the Secret Meeting, Everything is As Before

Edit:  when three hundred bad priests are foolish enough to sign their names to a petition suggesting they no longer believe what the Church teaches and don't intend to obey what it commands, it's time to take them at their word.  The Pastors' Initiative has been ballyhooed in the Austrian and a bit in the world press for a few months now, but not a single word about the Pastors Initiative to OBEDIENCE, which actually has more signators.  At least ORF [Ex-Reichsender Vienna] mentioned it recently.

Pastors File Advertisement

About 400 Austrian priests under the title "Call to Disobedience" [Let's see how disobedient they are when they are sent packing with a small severance] are seeking reforms like the allowance of women and married to the office of the priesthood, have caused the formation of a counter-movement.    Under the Motto "Call to Obedience", they view themselves as Catholics true to Rome. [They go on to mention the 1,500 singers of "Call to Obedience".  Actually, there are now  2241 of which around four hundred are priests and religious.]

Pfarrer schaltete ZeitungsinseratNachdem rund 400 österreichische Priester unter dem Titel "Aufruf zum Ungehorsam" Reformen wie die Zulassung von Frauen und Verheirateten zum Priesteramt verlangen, hat sich nun eine Gegenbewegung gebildet. Unter dem Motto "Aufruf zum Gehorsam" sehen sich die Initiatoren als Rom-treue Katholiken.

Here's an analysis of the present state of negotiations regarding the issue in Rome right now.  Members of the Congregation want more action, but nothing decisive.


No one has the courage, to challenge the media bosses and their useful idiots.  The cowardice is rampant among the Austrin Bishops -- and in the Vatican.


(kreuz.net, Wien) The meeting between Austrian Bishops with the Roman Dicastries about the Old Liberal one man show "Pastor's Initiative" will have no "dramatic consequences".

This not so surprising information was played out by the Bishops to the anti-Church Vienna daily, 'Kurier'.

The Bishops haven't "received any homework from the Vatican".

The Old Liberal speaker of the Austrian Bishops Conference, Paul Wuthe, referred banally to the meeting as "working discussion, as it regularly appears."

From This The Vatican Hasn't Learned the Truth


The journalist Guido Horst awoke in 'Die Tagespost' the impression, to know more.  Actually his reports were also vague.

The discussion about 'Pastor's Initiative' have taken place on Monday afternoon.

Four Austrian Bishops met with the Prelates of the Secretary of State as well as the CDF, Bishops and Congregation for Clergy.

The members of the Austrian delegation in rome were Cardinal Christoph Schönborn von Vienna, Archbishop Alois Kothgasser of Salzburg, Bishop Klaus Küng of St Pölten und Bishop Egon Kapellari von Graz-Seckau.

Horst believes that for the Pope and the Curia the moment has come  to cease "merely observing the break from Rome movement without decisive action."

The Vatican side of the meeting attempted, "through intentional and detailed questions to measure the weight of the threat of the Pastor resignation, if it were [allegedly] to result in a Church schism."

The Media Bosses Rule in the Church

Cardinal Schönborn doesn't want to do anything else but de-escalate -- says Horst.

The Prince of the Church hesitates to direct the taking of canonical steps.

A clarification could lead from a till now latent, to an open schism.

This is the fearful view that the Viennese Cardinal has portrayed for the Vatican.

Actually that is a bluff:  Because you can't base a church with only with the media bosses and individual faithfuless clerical retirees.

Where is the concern?




A few voices in the Roman Curia would like that the Bishops not put up with the creeping schism any further, writes Horst.

The faithful need orientation, even if the clear words might mean that one loses a [nominal] part of the Church membership -- which one would lose in the long run anyway.

Even the Pope is concerned about the alleged rebellion of the media bosses in Austria.

One pushes his inaction to the next

Even Horst views the Curial Cardinal of Vienna as the problem.

One wants to avoid the impression that Rome will act against dissenters.

It would be easier to  see, "if the competent bishops, that is, the pastors in the Alpine Republic of Austria, would effect a clarification among their priests."

Cardinal Schönborn, declares Horst, travels lightly back to his breakaway Archdiocese.

Because:  "If the 'Pastors' Initiative' can be given an international reach, then the opportunity to portray it as a purely Austrian phenomenon will be lost."

"Then the Vatican will have to intervene at last."

But then, the "international reach" would be the same bluff as the fear of an alleged schism.

Link to kreuz.net...

Here's Austrian Independent, which writes, describing the dissident group's leader's attempt to go international and Cardinal Schönborn's response:

Schönborn said in several interviews that he was not denying the urgent need for reforms of the Church. However, the archbishop also spoke out against Schüller's suggestions which conservative representatives of the Church consider as radical propaganda.
They also accuse Schüller of trying to split the Church. Schüller said the Church was on the brink of breaking up indeed – because of its leaders’ unwillingness to react to significant developments in today’s society. Austrian Church officials did not confirm that the Preachers’ Initiative was spoken about in the Vatican on Monday. Newspapers report that the movement’s appeals were discussed indeed. Schüller said today he was not afraid of consequences over his actions.
The ex-Caritas Austria president announced: "I appreciate that the Worldwide Church starts thinking about our ideals. Maybe this was the start of something." Schüller said last week he planned to cooperate with priests abroad who shared his opinions. "We receive a lot of approval from Catholic reform movements all over the world," he said. The Probstdorf parish priest also criticised the Vatican for its conservative attitude. Schüller claimed it bore resemblance to an "absolutist monarchy". He added: "The Catholic Church must finally start taking its members seriously."

Photo: Markus Göstl

The German Bishops Profit from Porn: Weltbild

Edit: This has been an issue for thirty years. Kath.net has just reported that Cologne has severed their relationship with Weltbild, an enormous publishing company which falls in just under Amazon in terms of revenue. Recently, there has been a tremendous reaction against this which is becoming increasingly intense.

The following article is from an anti-Catholic publication, 'Business Insider'. The only people reporting on this so far in English, are anti-Catholics. The conservative Catholic German media has been reporting on it non-step for the last two or three weeks.

One of Germany's largest publishing companies, Weltbild, has over 2,500 erotic novels in its online catalogue. Its owned 100 percent by the German Catholic Church.

Worldcrunch, summarizing an article by German newspaper Die Welt, says that for over 10 years Catholics have complained about the company, which has been owned by the church for over 30 years. The high point of this opposition came in 2008, when a 70-page report on the book sales was sent to bishops.

Die Welt reports that the situation came to light after a report this month mentioned the erotica distributed by Weltbild. The publication also said that over half of the bishops who were sent the report in 2008 failed to acknowledge receipt of the document.

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/catholic-church-german-porn-industry-2011-10#ixzz1cBhW1rVR

German Theologian Says Schism Has Been Reality a Long Time

 Edit: This Heidelberg theologian has no illusions about the situation in Germany. The article was cited on Germany's SSPX website. Perhaps it's not the SSPX the Pope should worry about, but his disobedient Bishops and theologians?  Pay close attention to how these "reformers" arguments don't hold a lot of water and how they appeal to the child sexual abuse as a justification for their sinful disobedience.

The Vatican Magazine published a disturbing analysis of the situation of the Church in Germany in its September edition. It came from the feather of the exegete  and theologian Klaus Berger.

Berger came to the conclusion that there are a large sum of anti-Church initiatives (which are voiced especially in Germany) "which are indeed already practiced up and down the land".   He means here the remarried divorced, women in ecclesiastical offices etc...

He has come to the conclusion: "The overwhelming majority of the German Catholic professors for theology, along with their Bishops, have come to embody a split in the Catholic Church in Germany for a long time."

Church of the Germans -- Church of Scandals

Between the stalled reforms and division, Pope Benedict and the 'gravamina nationis germanicae" is an oration of the Heidelberg Theologian Klaus Berge.

The stalled reforms,  under which the German Church is alleged to have suffered, are not completely new and fresh.

They are long standing, wooden propsoals:  same sex partnerships, remarried divorced, married priests, women "in ecclesiastical offices" (what is meant is probably ordination) and the participation of the people in the election of Bishops.

These demands and proposals are familiar to me as a historian of the Conciliarism of the 4th century, and partly from the Kulturkampf under Bismarck, and partly from the books of my Great Grandfather, who had boasted to have been a party member in 1923.

The whole is therefore neither revolutionary, nor in any way comprehensive.  It is a mere collection of scandals, like the „gravamina nationis germanicae“ of 1522.  In German:  "The affliction of the German Nation."

It is interesting that here the concept "German Nation" occurs, because the singers of the Memorandum of those 150 theologians earlier this year were of German national back ground.  It is striking:  not one of those demands is substantiated, and clearly had been enforced.

No one can convince me that the diagnosis of gridlock is because of this supposed collegial assistance for the rest of the reign of Pope Benedict.  Because there isn't the slightest glimmer of a possibility that any of these will be realized in the future.  And who authorized these pretended reformers to speak for my faith? [WOW]

In German Universities, these acts will not only be undertaken by 150 professors, or about one third of the colleagues who follow these enthusiasts, but in reality it should be about two thirds.   But the dream of these colleagues and what they propose is always novel, but it's not the future, it's already practiced all over the country already.


For in truth, it is at the its base in Germany,  maintaining comprehensive inter-celebration and inter-communion. The Corpus Christi procession with the ecumenical female Protestant pastor took care to read the Gospel at all four altars. Thus missing in the catalog of all relevant claims, especially these: We demand the immediate and unconditional acceptance of all Protestant church structures. By the way: as far as the creed of any religious truths which has been interesting for some, for time anyway, no more.
 
The overwhelming majority of German Catholic professors of theology embody, therefore, along with some bishops, have long been split from the Catholic Church in Germany. This church is deliberately insisted upon and it is a thoroughly German national church. For the special required by Rome, including celibacy rules, are indeed already practiced.  Still, it makes no sense to themselves and others to throw sand in the eye here. [u]But hypocrisy and cowardice[/u] are complementary to the present chapter of this new schism.
 
When the Pope comes to us now, he will present a good face to an insidious game. This much is clear to me: the Church renewed by these "reformers" I do not belong - and the large number of those not still in the Catholic Church of my youth and formed as the people of God, have fled long ago in the internal or external emigration from the faith of my fathers and my beloved mother, dying Church.
 
Without wanting to give these uncritical critics of the Church too much credit, I would like to make a philological note on their pamphlets and statements.  This text from recent Church history is not known to me, where the word "freedom" is arbitrary, aloof and also completely transgressed in an  unbiblical way.
 
In a similar way, is the latest revision of Luther,  where Luther is supposed to be the representative of civil liberties (including participation). Freedom is always according to the liberation of the biblical revelation  instead of that which threatens the eternal life of man. It was also central in Luther to experience of liberation from sin, death and the devil. Luther did not mean lay preaching and the participation of a businessman in the next election of a bishop.
 
Gerhard Schröder, had but so many excellent opportunities for us, that Mrs. Kaessmann [A protestant Bishopess who lost her job because of a dui conviction]  with her immense popularity would become the next Archbishopess and successor of Cardinal Meisner. This is not at all what I mean, when I speak as a theologian of freedom, but freedom in terms of the new anti-Roman and anti-papal "German Christians" would read: "We do what we want"; the only measure is the zeitgeist. The fact that God's commandments  are thrown overboard will hardly be noticed by the reader (divorce ban, ban the practice of homosexuality, ban on public preaching of women in worship, in 1 Corinthians 14:37, expressly referred to as the Lord's command, prohibition of self-determination in ethical issues according to Romans 6.15-17 - "but now you obeyed from the heart of the apostolic teaching").
 
From one of my  colleagues I have even heard that since celibacy lacks theological grounding, it is "not necessary". Now there is, in fact, a German understanding of Christianity brought to a head. And they always repeated a declaration that when something is not necessary, it is what is meant by Catholic, light years away. For even the cathedral is "not necessary" for there is no scripture passage standing against against its demolition and you could easily invest instead, and with the consent of the masses, an ecumenical Parking lot.
 
It also means to the average Catholic in Germany: since then some clever professor found out, not to go to church on Sundays is not a more serious sin, so the rest goes, because it was not necessary. In short: Nothing but the baptism is necessary, and actually not even that.

Grace is not necessary, and you can't preach the sign of the cross to anyone either. No praise is necessary, no surrender. One should not make such a fuss, no commitment, no great love for the Church as needed. The craving of the new intra-Catholic reformers is missing this above all: the name of Jesus and that a change of heart is sorely needed.

I won't talk any more of the crisis of faith (about which, speaks any text of the New Testament already) to describe the demands of the German professional mourners, even as an example of this crisis.
 
In my home, Easter is still a highly visible luminous sign of a victorious faith and great love. One came to the fires, marveled at the embers, and warming himself at them, he swore eternal fidelity to the girlfriend at his side. For the in the Bible,  faith, loyalty and identity  are all of the same.
(Source: Vatican magazine , Sept. 2011)


Link to Germany's Society webpage...