the decisions of the German synod “do not correspond to the doctrine of the Catholic Church”

A few hours after the conclusion of the German synodal journey, this process, at the end of which Catholic leaders across the Rhine completed a four-year reflection on the future of the Church in their country, the Vatican addressed , Monday, March 13, a new warning to the bishops of Germany.

The question of the blessings of homosexual couples

“The synodal path takes decisions that do not correspond exactly to what is currently the doctrine of the Church”, thus affirmed the Secretary of State of the Holy See, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, on the sidelines of a conference on Vatican diplomacy, at the headquarters of Civiltà Cattolica. Particularly targeted by the cardinal: the decision of the German Catholic Church to bless homosexual couples.

“It seems to me that the Holy See has already expressed itself very clearly on this, with the document of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith”, replied the cardinal, recalling the existence of this Roman text from March 2021 which clearly opposed any blessing of same-sex couples. “Rome’s position is this,” the cardinal added.

A discussion between German Catholics and Rome

“A particular, local Church cannot make these kinds of decisions, which involve the discipline of the universal Church,” he continued. He stressed that there must be “a discussion (of German Catholic leaders) with Rome as well as with the rest of the Churches in the world”, in order to “clarify the decisions to be taken”.

These discussions should take place, the Italian cardinal said, within the framework of the Synod on the future of the Church, which is due to end in Rome in October 2024. “Even if (the Germans) say that all this is taking place in the current canon law, it will be necessary to see, to discuss this”, insisted Cardinal Parolin.

This reaction is the first since the concluding session of the German synodal path, Saturday March 11 in Frankfurt, during which the Catholic Church in Germany adopted several key measures, in particular on the blessing of divorced, remarried or same-sex couples. Highly criticized by Rome, the “Synodal Council” approved in September should see the light of day before March 2026.

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