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German bishop at Synod on Synodality: Church should not ignore ‘signs of the times’

Jonathan Liedl   By Jonathan Liedl for CNA

October 21, 2023 Catholic News Agency The Dispatch 31 Print

Bishop Franz-Josef Overbeck of Essen, Germany at the Synod on Synodality press briefing Oct. 21, 2023. / Credit: Daniel Ibáñez

Vatican City, Oct 21, 2023 / 12:40 pm (CNA).

A German bishop participating in the Synod on Synodality challenged the idea that the Catholic community in his country is at odds with the universal Church — and reasserted that it will continue to play a role in the ongoing discussions in Rome about the Church’s future.

Speaking at the Synod press briefing Saturday afternoon, Bishop Franz Josef Overbeck of Essen acknowledged that others have expressed concerns to him regarding the Catholic Church in Germany’s controversial “Synodal Way.”

“Many people have asked me, ‘Are you still Catholics and part of the Catholic Church?”, said Overbeck, one of the German Bishops Conference’s three delegates to the universal Synod, and a major proponent of the German Synodal Way. “And I say, ‘Yes, of course, we are Catholics, and we are here to stay.”

Begun in 2019, the Synodal Way is a non-canonical initiative of the German bishops’ conference and the Central Committee of German Catholics (ZdK). The collaboration approved blessings of same-sex unions, incorporated transgender ideology into Church practice, and petitioned Rome to open ordained ministry to women at its final assembly in Frankfurt in March 2023.

Pope Francis has criticized the Synodal Way as “elitist” and “not helpful,” while bishops from around the world have written to express their concern that the process could induce schism between Germany and the universal Church. Vatican officials and German bishops have held multiple meetings to discuss the Synodal Way, most recently on July 27.

Contextual argument

Speaking for nearly 10 minutes about the Synodal Way to journalists, Overbeck asserted that the controversial process was responding to the uniquely “post-secular” context of German culture, in which “people have no idea” about transcendence, the Church, or Jesus Christ.

“This changes the entire framework for the questions we are carrying out,” said Overbeck, adding that if Catholic teaching is in contradiction with “the signs of the times,” then “nobody is going to be convinced” by the Church’s guidance.

Overbeck repeatedly referred to Germany’s particular cultural situation to justify some of the Synodal Way’s most controversial proposals. For instance, he alluded to exploring an end to mandatory priestly celibacy by noting that in his 13 years as Bishop of Essen, he has only ordained 15 new priests, while 300 priests have died. The Diocese of Essen, he said, currently has no seminarians in formation.

In addition, Overbeck suggested that the widespread presence of both the Catholic permanent diaconate as well as ordained women as Lutheran ministers in Germany makes the question of opening the diaconate to women particularly relevant to the local Church.

“We live in this world, and these are the questions that come up,” said Overbeck, who said that any consideration of including women in the diaconate should be in response to “a vocation,” and not simply creating a rite “so that women can be a part of the sacramental ministry of the Church.”

Overbeck, who has previously said that same-sex “marriage” should be accepted and not described as immoral, also said at the press event that the Church must keep Christ at the center but set aside its “habit and tradition” to meet contemporary needs, though he seemed to clarify that by “tradition” he was not referring to Apostolic Tradition.

The bishop of Essen added that the Synodal Way and its calls for change in Church teaching related to sexuality, ordination, and governance were aimed at addressing the systemic causes of the sex abuse crisis, which has rocked the Catholic Church in Germany over the past decade.

Bishop Overbeck also acknowledged that a “synodal committee” will begin work in Germany in November, with the aim of establishing a permanent synodal council made up of bishops and laity to govern the Catholic Church in Germany. The Vatican has explicitly forbidden the establishment of this council as inconsistent with the Church’s ecclesiology, and four out of Germany’s 27 ordinaries voted in June to block funding for the synodal committee from a common fund.

Decentralization and “Convergence”

Notably, Overbeck’s inclusion on the panel and his comments came during the Synod on Synodality’s exploration of the theme of “participation, governance, and authority,” which includes a focus on the “decentralization” of Church governance.

To this effect, the synod’s working document quotes Pope Francis’s instruction in Evangelii Gaudium that “it is not advisable for the Pope to take the place of local Bishops in the discernment of every issue which arises in their territory. In this sense, I am conscious of the need to promote a sound ‘decentralization.’”

During this part of the Synod, participants are being asked to consider questions including, “What degree of doctrinal authority can be attributed to the discernment of Episcopal Conferences?”

Another question asks “to what extent” the “convergence” of local Church entities, such as episcopal conferences, on “the same issue commit the Bishop of Rome to address it at the level of the universal Church?”

The founding president of the German Synodal Way said in December 2022 that the initiative was designed to create “pressure” on the universal Church.

Overbeck and Bishop Georg Bätzing, president of the German Bishops Conference, have both expressed their intention to advance the proposals of the Synodal Way at the ongoing Synod on Synodality. In fact, Bätzing reportedly shared a 159-page document detailing the Synodal Way’s findings with the rest of the Roman synod’s 365 members earlier this month.

Overbeck has previously said that the Synod on Synodality must take up the proposals advanced by the German Synodal Way, “from the role of women to the question of sexuality and the question of people who love each other.”

However, Overbeck added at the press conference that he may also be taking something from the Synod on Synodality back to Germany. He noted that the synod’s “conversation in the spirit method,” emphasizing listening without asking questions and times of silent prayer, could be incorporated into the German Synodal Way’s work going forward.

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Synod on Synodality: Read the full list of delegates

July 8, 2023 Catholic News Agency 2
Pope Francis led the opening procession of the Synod of Bishops for the Pan-Amazon Region from St. Peter’s Basilica to the Synod Hall where he led the opening prayer, Oct. 7, 2019. / null

CNA Newsroom, Jul 8, 2023 / 08:30 am (CNA).

The Vatican has published the names of those participating in the upcoming Synod on Synodality assembly in October, including laypeople who will be full voting delegates at a Catholic Church synod for the first time.

The delegates are made up of representatives selected by bishops’ conferences and Eastern Catholic Churches, leaders in the Roman Curia, and 120 delegates personally selected by Pope Francis.

In total, 363 people will be able to vote in the 16th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, according to statistics released by the Holy See Press Office on July 7. Among them, 54 of the voting delegates are women.

In addition to the voting members, 75 other participants have been invited to the synod assembly to act as facilitators, experts, or spiritual assistants.

Here is full list of participants:

President 

Pope Francis 

General Secretary 

Cardinal Mario Grech of Malta

President’s Delegates

His Beatitude Ibrahim Isaac Sedrak, Patriarch of Alexandria, head of the Synod of The Coptic Catholic Church, Egypt. 

Cardinal Carlos Aguiar Retes, Archbishop of Mexico City, Mexico 

Archbishop Gerardo Cabrera Herrera, O.F.M., of Guayaquil, Ecuador

Archbishop Timothy John Costelloe, S.D.B., of Perth, Australia

Bishop Daniel Ernest Flores of Brownsville, Texas, USA 

Bishop Lúcio Andrice Muandula of Xai-Xai, Mozambique

Father Giuseppe Bonfrate (Italy) 

Sister Maria De Los Dolores Palencia, C.S.J., Mexico

Momoko Nishimura, S.E.M.D. (Japan) 

General Relator

Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich, S.J., Archbishop of Luxembourg

Special Secretaries

Father Giacomo Costa, S.J., Italy, president of Fondazione Culturale San Fedele of Milan, national spiritual companion of the Italian Christian Workers Associations 

Father Riccardo Battocchio, Italy, Rector of the Almo Collegio Capranica, president of the Italian Theological Association

Commission for Information 

President: Paolo Ruffini, Prefect of the Dicastery for Communication, Vatican City 

Secretary: Sheila Leocádia Pires, communications officer, Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC), Mozambique

From the Eastern Catholic Churches

His Beatitude Ibrahim Isaac Sedrak, Coptic Church Patriarch of Alexandria, head of the Synod of the Coptic Catholic Church

His Beatitude Youssef Absi, patriarch of Antioch of the Greek-Melkites, head of the Synod of the Greek Melkite Catholic Church

His Beatitude Ignace Youssef Iii Younan, Patriarch of Antioch of the Syrians, head of the Synod of the Syrian Catholic Church

Cardinal Béchara Boutros Raï, O.M.M., Patriarch of Antioch of the Maronites, head of the Synod of the Maronite Church

Bishop Mounir Khairallah of Batrun of the Maronites

Cardinal Louis Raphaël I Sako, Patriarch of Babylon of the Chaldeans, head of the Synod of the Chaldean Church

His Beatitude Raphaël Bedros XXI Minassian, I.C.P.B., Patriarch of Cilicia of Armenians, head of the Synod of the Armenian Catholic Church

His Beatitude Sviatoslav Shevchuk, Major Archbishop of Kyiv-Halyc, Kyiv, head of the Synod of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church

Bishop Teodor Martynyuk, M.S.U., Titular Bishop of Mopta, auxiliary bishop of Ternopil-Zboriv

Monsignor Bohdan Dzyurakh, C.SS.R., Apostolic Exarch of Germany and Scandinavia, Titular Bishop of Vagada

Cardinal George Alencherry, Major Archbishop of Ernakulam-Angamaly, head of the Synod of the Syro-Malabar Church

Metropolitan Archbishop Andrews Thazhath of Trichur, president of the Catholic bishops’ conference of India

Archbishop Joseph Pamplany of Tellicherry, India

His Beatitude Cardinal Baselios Cleemis Thottunkal, head of the Synod of the Syro-Malankara Church

Bishop Cristian Dumitru Crişan, Titular Bishop of Abula, Auxiliary Bishop of Fagaras Si Alba Iulia Dei Romanians

Cardinal Berhaneyesus Demerew Souraphiel, Metropolitan Archbishop of Addis Abeba, president of the Ethiopian and Eritrean bishops’ conference, president of the Council of the Ethiopian Church

Metropolitan Archbishop William Charles Skurla of the Byzantine Archeparchy of Pittsburgh, president of the Council of the Ruthenian Church  

Bishop Milan Lach, S.J., auxiliary bishop of Bratislava, Slovakia

Metropolitan Archbishop Menghesteab Tesfamariam of Asmara, president of the Council of the Eritrean Church 

Metropolitan Archbishop Fülöp Kocsis of Hajdúdorog for the Byzantine Catholics, president of the Council of the Hungarian Church 

Episcopal Conferences 

Africa

Northern Africa (CERNA)

Cardinal Cristóbal López Romero, S.D.B., Archbishop of Rabat, Morocco

Angola and Sao Tome

Bishop Joaquim Nhanganga Tyombe of of Uíje, Angola

Benin

Archbishop Coffi Roger Anoumou, Bishop of Lokossa

Botswana, South Africa, and Eswatini

Archbishop Anton Dabula Mpako, Archbishop of Pretoria, Military Ordinary of South Africa

Burkina Faso and Niger

Archbishop Gabriel Sayaogo of Koupéla, Burkina Faso

Burundi

Archbishop Georges Bizimana, Bishop of Ngozi

Cameroon

Archbishop Emmanuel Dassi Youfang of Bafia

Bishop Philippe Alain Mbarga, of Ebolowa

Chad

Bishop Nicolas Nadji Bab of Laï

Republic of Congo

Bishop Ildevert Mathurin Mouanga of Kinkala

Democratic Republic of Congo

Archbishop Marcel Utembi Tapa of Kisangani

Bishop Pierre-Célestin Tshitoko Mamba of Luebo

Côte D’ivoire (Ivory Coast)

Archbishop Marcellin Kouadio Yao of Daloa

Ethiopia

Archbishop Markos Ghebremedhin, C.M., Apostolic Vicar of Jimma-Bonga, Titular Bishop of Gummi of Proconsulari

Gabon

Archbishop Jean-Patrick Iba-Ba of Libreville

Gambia and Sierra Leone

Archbishop Edward Tamba Charles of Freetown, Sierra Leone

Ghana

Bishop Emmanuel Kofi Fianu, S.V.D., of Ho

Archbishop Gabriel Charles Palmer-Buckle of Cape Coast

Guinea

Archbishop Vincent Coulibaly, of Conarkry

Equatorial Guinea

Bishop Juan Domingo-Beka Esono Ayang, C.M.F., of Mongomo, president of the Episcopal Conference

Kenya

Archbishop Martin Kivuva Musonde of Mombasa, president of the Episcopal Conference

Archbishop Anthony Muheria of Nyeri

Lesotho

Bishop John Joale Tlhomola, S.C.P., of Mohale’s Hoek

Liberia

Bishop Anthony Fallah Borwah of Gbarnga

Madagascar

Auxiliary Bishop Jean Pascal Andriantsoavina of Antananavarivo,  Titular Bishop of Zallata

Malawi

Archbishop George Desmond Tambala, O.C.D., of Lilongwe, Apostolic Administrator of Zomba

Mali

Bishop Hassa Florent Koné of San

Mozambique

Archbishop Inácio Saure, I.M.C., of Nampula

Namibia

Archbishop Liborius Ndumbukuti Nashenda, O.M.I., of Windhoek

Nigeria

Bishop Donatus Aihmiosion Ogun, O.S.A., of Uromi

Archbishop Ignatius Ayau Kaigama of Abuja

Archbishop Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji of Owerri

Indian Ocean (CEDOI)

Bishop Alain Harel of Port Victoria

Central African Republic

Bishop Nestor-Désiré Nongo-Aziagbia, S.M.A., of Bossangoa

Rwanda

Bishop Edouard Sinayobye of Cyangugu

Senegal, Mauritania, Cape Verde, and Guinea-Bissau

Bishop Ildo Augusto Dos Santos Lopes Fortes of Mindelo, Cape Verde

Sudan

Archbishop Stephen Ameyu Martin Mulla of Juba, South Sudan

Tanzania

Archbishop Jude Thaddaeus Ruwa’ichi, O.F.M. Cap., of Dar-Es-Salaam

Bishop Flavian Kassala of Geita

Togo

Bishop Dominique Banlène Guigbile of Dapaong

Uganda

Bishop Sanctus Lino Wanok of Lira

Zambia

Archbishop Ignatius Chama of Kasama

Zimbabwe

Bishop Raphael Macebo Mabuza Ncube of Hwange

Americas

Antilles

Archbishop Charles Jason Gordon of Porto of Spain

Argentina

Bishop Óscar Vicente Ojea of San Isidro

Archbishop Marcelo Daniel Colombo of Mendoza

Archbishop Carlos Alfonso Azpiroz Costa, O.P. of Bahía Blanca

Bolivia

Bishop Pedro Luis Fuentes Valencia, C.P., of La Paz, Titular Bishop of Temuniana

Brazil

Archbishop Emeritus Geraldo Lyrio Rocha of Mariana

Bishop Joel Portella Amado of São Sebastião do Rio De Janeiro, Titular Bishop of Carmeiano

Bishop Pedro Carlos Cipollini of Santo André

Archbishop Leonardo Ulrich Steiner, O.F.M., of Manaus

Bishop Dirceu De Oliveira Medeiros of Camaçari

Canada

Bishop Marc Pelchat of Québec, Titular Bishop of Lambesi

Bishop Raymond Poisson of Saint-Jérôme-Mont-Laurier

Archbishop John Michael Miller, C.S.B., of Vancouver

Bishop William Terrence Mcgrattan of Calgary

Chile

Archbishop Luis Fernando Ramos Pérez of Puerto Montt

Bishop Carlos Alberto Godoy Labraña of Santiago de Chile, Titular Bishop of Pudenziana

Colombia

Archbishop Luis José Rueda Aparicio of Bogotá

Archbishop Ricardo Antonio Tobón Restrepo of Medellín

Archbishop José Miguel Gómez Rodríguez of Manizales

Costa Rica

Bishop Javier Gerardo Román Arias of Limón

Cuba

Bishop Marcos Pirán of Holguín, Titular Bishop of Boseta

Ecuador

Archbishop Luis Gerardo Cabrera Herrera, O.F.M., of Guayaquil

Bishop David Israel De La Torre Altamirano, Ss.Cc., of Quito, Titular Bishop of Bagai

El Salvador

Bishop William Ernesto Iraheta Rivera of Santiago De María

Guatemala

Bishop Juan Manuel Cuá Ajacúm of Los Altos, Titular Bishop of Rosella

Haiti

Archbishop Launay Saturné of Cap-Haïtie, president of the Episcopal Conference

Honduras

Archbishop José Vicente Nácher Tatay, C.M., of Tegucigalpa

Mexico

Bishop Gerardo Díaz Vázquez of Tacámbaro

Bishop Oscar Efraín Tamez Villarreal of Ciudad Victoria

Archbishop Faustino Armendáriz Jiménez of Durango

Bishop Adolfo Miguel Castaño Fonseca of Azcapotzalco

Nicaragua

Bishop Sócrates René Sándigo Jirón of León 

Panama

Bishop Edgardo Cedeño Muñoz, S.V.D. of Penonomé

Paraguay

Bishop Miguel Ángel Cabello Almada of Concepción En Paraguay

Peru

Archbishop Héctor Miguel Cabrejos Vidarte, O.F.M., of Trujillo

Bishop Edinson Edgardo Farfán Córdova, O.S.A., Bishop Prelate of Chuquibambilla

Cardinal Archbishop Pedro Ricardo Barreto Jimeno, S.J., of Huancayo

Puerto Rico

Bishop Rubén Antonio González Medina, C.M.F., of Ponce

Dominican Republic

Bishop Ramón Alfredo De La Cruz Baldera of San Francisco De Macorís

United States of America

 Bishop Timothy Broglio, Military Ordinary of the United States of America

Bishop Daniel Ernest Flores of Brownsville, Texas

Bishop Robert Emmet Barron of Winona-Rochester, Minnesota

Bishop Kevin Carl Rhoades of Fort Wayne-South Bend, Indiana

Cardinal Timothy Michael Dolan, Archbishop of New York

Uruguay

Bishop Milton Luis Tróccoli Cebedio of Maldonado-Punta Del Este-Minas

Venezuela

Bishop Juan Carlos Bravo Salazar of Petare

Archbishop José Luis Azuaje Ayala of Maracaibo

Asia

Central Asia 

Cardinal Giorgio Marengo, I.M.C., Apostolic Prefect of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Bangladesh

Archbishop Bejoy Nicephorus D’cruze, O.M.I., of Dhaka

China (Chinese Regional Bishops’ Conference)

Bishop Norbert Pu of Kiayi, Taiwan

Korea

Archbishop Peter Chung Soon-Taick, O.C.D., of Seoul

Philippines

Bishop Pablo Virgilio S. David of Kalookan

Cardinal Archbishop Jose F. Advincula of Manila

Bishop Mylo Hubert C. Vergara of Pasig

Japan 

Archbishop Tarcisio Isao Kikuchi, S.V.D., of Tokyo

India (CCBI)

Cardinal Filipe Neri António Sebastião Do Rosário Ferrão, Archbishop of Goa and Damão

Archbishop George Antonysamy of Madras and Mylapore

Bishop Alex Joseph Vadakumthala of Kannur

Cardinal Anthony Poola, Archbishop of Hyderabad

Indonesia

Bishop Antonius Subianto Bunjamin, O.S.C., of Bandung

Bishop Adrianus Sunarko, O.F.M., of Pangkalpinang

Iran

Archbishop Dominique Mathieu, O.F.M. Conv., of Tehran-Ispahan of the Latins

Laos and Cambodia

Father Enrique Figaredo Alvargonzalez, S.J., Apostolic Prefect of Battambang, Cambodia 

Malaysia-Singapore-Brunei

Cardinal William Seng Chye Goh, Archbishop of Singapore

Myanmar

Bishop John Saw Yaw Han of Kengtung

Arab countries

Monsignor Paolo Martinelli, O.F.M. Cap., Apostolic Vicar of South Arabia

Pakistan

Monsignor Khalid Rehmat, O.F.M. Cap., Apostolic Vicar of Quetta

Sri Lanka

Bishop Raymond Kingsley Wickramasinghe of Galle

Thailand

Cardinal Francis Xavier Kriengsak Kovithavanij, Archbishop of Bangkok

East Timor

Cardinal Virgilio Do Carmo Da Silva, S.D.B., Archbishop of Díli

Vietnam

Bishop Joseph Đo Manh Hùng of Phan Thiêt

Bishop Louis Nguyên Anh Tuán of Hà Tinh

Europe 

Albania

Archbishop Arjan Dodaj, F.D.C., of Tiranë-Durrës

Austria

Archbishop Franz Lackner, O.F.M., of Salzburg

Belgium

Bishop Koenraad Vanhoutte of Mechelen-Brussels, Titular Bishop of Tagora

Belarus

Bishop Aliaksandr Yasheuski, S.D.B., of Minsk-Mohilev, Titular Bishop of Fornos Major

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bishop Marko Semren, O.F.M., of Banja Luka, Titular Bishop of Abaradira

Bulgaria

Bishop Strahil Veselinov Kavalenov of Nicopolis

The Czech Republic 

Bishop Zdenek Wasserbauer of Praha, Titular Bishop of Butrint

International Episcopal Conference of Sts. Cyril and Methodius

Archbishop Ladislav Nemet, S.V.D., of Beograd, Serbia, president of the Episcopal Conference

Croatia

Bishop Ivan Ćurić, Auxiliary of Ðakovo-Osijek, Titular Bishop of Tela

Russian Federation

Archbishop Paolo Pezzi, F.S.C.B., of Mother of God in Moscow

France

Bishop Alexandre Joly of Troyes

Bishop Jean-Marc Eychenne of Grenoble-Vienne

Bishop Matthieu Rougé of Nanterre

Bishop Benoît Bertrand of Mende

Germany

Bishop Georg Bätzing of Limburg

Bishop Bertram Johannes Meier of Augsburg

Bishop Franz-Josef Overbeck of Essen, Military Ordinary for the Federal Republic of Germany

Great Britain (England & Wales)

Archbishop John Wilson of Southwark

Bishop Marcus Stock of Leeds

Great Britain (Scotland)

Bishop Brian Mcgee of Argyll and the Isles

Greece

Archbishop Georgios Altouvas of Corfu, Zakynthos, and Kefalonia

Ireland

Bishop Brendan Leahy of Limerick

Bishop Alexander Aloysius McGuckian, S.J., of Raphoe

Italy

Archbishop Roberto Repole of Turin, Bishop of Susa

Bishop Franco Giulio Brambilla of Novara

Archbishop Bruno Forte of Chieti-Vasto

Archbishop Domenico Battaglia of Naples

Archbishop Mario Enrico Delpini of Milan

Latvia

Archbishop Zbigņev Stankevičs of Riga

Lithuania

Bishop Algirdas Jurevičius of Telšiai

Malta

Archbishop Charles Jude Scicluna of Malta

Netherlands

Bishop Theodorus Cornelis Maria Hoogenboom of Utrecht, Titular Bishop of Bistue

Poland

Archbishop Stanisław Gądecki of Poznań

Archbishop Adrian Józef Galbas, S.A.C., Coadjutor Archbishop of Katowice

Archbishop Marek Jędraszewski of Kraków

Portugal

Bishop Virgílio do Nascimento Antunes of Coimbra

Bishop José Ornelas Carvalho, S.C.I., of Leiria-Fátima

Romania

Archbishop Gergely Kovács of Alba Iulia, Apostolic Administrator, Ad Nutum Sanctæ Sedis of the Ordinariate for Catholics of the Armenian Rite residing in Romania

Scandinavia

Bishop Czeslaw Kozon of København, Denmark

Slovakia

Bishop Marek Forgáč of Košice, Titular Bishop of Seleuciana

Slovenia

Bishop Maksimilijan Matjaž of Celje

Spain

Archbishop Vicente Jiménez Zamora, Archbishop Emeritus of Zaragoza 

Archbishop Luis Javier Argüello García of Valladolid

Bishop Francisco Simón Conesa Ferrer of Solsona

Switzerland 

Bishop Felix Gmür of Basel

Turkey

Bishop Massimiliano Palinuro, Apostolic Vicar of Istanbul, Apostolic Administrator Vacant See of the Apostolic Exarchate of Istanbul 

Ukraine

Bishop Oleksandr Yazlovetskiy of Kyiv-Zhytomyr, Titular Bishop of Tulana

Hungary

Bishop Gábor Mohos Mohos of Esztergom-Budapest, Titular Bishop of Iliturgi

Oceania

Australia

Archbishop Patrick Michael O’Regan of Adelaide

Bishop Shane Anthony Mackinlay of Sandhurst

New Zealand

Archbishop Paul Gerard Martin, S.M., Coadjutor of Wellington

Pacific

Bishop Paul Patrick Donoghue, S.M., of Rarotonga, Cook Islands

Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands

Bishop Dariusz Piotr Kałuża, M.S.F., of Bougainville

Bishops Without an Episcopal Conference

Europe

Archbishop Selim Jean Sfeir of Cyprus of the Maronites

Presidents of International Meetings of Episcopal Conferences

Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa And Madagascar (SECAM)

Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, O.F.M. Cap.

Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC)

Cardinal Charles Maung Bo, S.D.B.

Federation of Catholic Bishops’ Conferences of Oceania (FCBCO)

Bishop Antony Randazzo

Council of Bishops’ Conferences of Europe (CCEE)

Bishop Gintaras Grušas

Latin American Bishops’ Council (CELAM)

Bishop Jaime Spengler, O.F.M.

The Union of Superiors General and the International Union of Superiors General

Sister Nadia Coppa, A.S.C., president of the International Union of Superiors General (UISG)

Sister Elizabeth Mary Davis, R.S.M.

Brother Mark Hilton, S.C., Superior General of the Brothers of the Sacred Heart

Sister Elysée Izerimana, Op. S.D.N., General Councilor of the Working Sisters of the Holy House of Nazareth

Abbot Mauro-Giuseppe Lepori, O. Cist., Abbot General of the Cistercian Order

Sister Patricia Murray, I.B.V.M., executive secretary of the International Union of Superiors General (UISG)

Sister Maria Nirmalini, A.C., Superior General of the Sisters of the Apostolic Carmelite Order

Brother Ernesto Sánchez, F.M.S., Superior General of the Marist Brothers 

Father  Arturo Sosa, S.I., Superior General of the Society of Jesus

Father Gebresilasie Tadesse Tesfaye, M.C.C.J., Superior General of the Comboni Missionaries of the Heart of Jesus

Heads of Dicasteries of the Roman Curia

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State

Archbishop Edgar Peña Parra, Sostituto for the Secretariat of State

Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for the Relations with States

Cardinal Luis Antonio G. Tagle, Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization 

Archbishop Salvatore Fisichella, Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization 

Archbishop Víctor Manuel Fernández, future Prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith

Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, papal almoner, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Service of Charity

Archbishop Claudio Gugerotti, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches

Cardinal Arthur Roche, Prefect for the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments

Cardinal Miguel Ángel Ayuso Guixot, M.C.C.J., Prefect of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue

Archbishop Robert Francis Prevost, O.S.A., Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops

Cardinal Lazarus You Heung-Sik, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Clergy

Cardinal João Braz De Aviz, Prefect of the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life And Societies of Apostolic Life

Cardinal Kevin Joseph Farrell, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Laity, Family And Life

Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, Prefect of the Dicastery of the Causes of Saints

Cardinal Kurt Koch, Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity.

Cardinal José Tolentino De Mendonça, Prefect of the Dicastery for Culture And Education

Cardinal Michael Czerny, S.J., Prefect of the Dicastery for the Service of Integral Human Development

Archbishop Filippo Iannone, O. Carm., Prefect of the Dicastery for Legislative Texts

Paolo Ruffini, Prefect of the Dicastery for Communication

Members Nominated by Pope Francis 

Cardinal Carlos Aguiar Retes, Archbishop of Mexico City, Mexico

Bishop Juan Ignacio Arrieta Ochoa De Chinchetru, Secretary of the Dicastery for Legislative Texts, Vatican City

Cardinal Jeans-Marc Aveline, Archbishop of Marseille, France

Archbishop Ignace Bessi Dogbo, Archbishop of Korhogo, Ivory Coast

Father Giuseppe Bonfrate, Italy

Bishop Dante Gustavo Braida, Bishop of La Rioja, Argentina

Archbishop Erio Castellucci, Archbishop of Modena-Nantola-Carpi, Italy

Bishop Stephen Chow Sau-Yan of Hong Kong, China

Archbishop Timothy Costelloe, S.D.B., Archbishop of Perth, Australia

Cardinal Blase Cupich, Archbishop of Chicago, USA

Cardinal Jozef De Kesel, Archbishop Emeritus of Mechelen-Brussels, Belgium

Bishop Lizardo Estrada Herrera, O.S.A., Auxiliary Bishop of Cuzco, Peru, Titular 

Bishop of Ausuccura, Secretary General of the Latin American bishops’ conference (CELAM)

Archbishop Paul Dennis Etienne, Archbishop of Seattle, USA

Cardinal Juan De La Caridad García Rodríguez, Archbishop of San Cristóbal de La Habana, Cuba

Bishop Felix Genn, Bishop of Münster, Germany

Cardinal Wilton Gregory, Archbishop of Washington, D.C., USA

Cardinal Jeans-Claude Hollerich, S.I., Relator General of the Synod on Synodality, Archbishop of Luxembourg

Bishop Nicholas Gilbert Hudson, Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster, Great Britain

Archbishop Dražen Kutleša, Archbishop of Zagreb, Croatia

Cardinal Luis Francisco Ladaria Ferrer, S.J., Prefect Emeritus of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, Vatican City

Cardinal Robert Walter McElroy, Bishop of San Diego, USA

Bishop Marco Mellino, Secretary of the Council of Cardinals, Vatican City

Bishop Gjergj Meta, Bishop of Rrëshen, Albania

Bishop Lucius Andrew Muandula, Bishop of Xai-Xai, Mozambique

Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Müller, Prefect Emeritus of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Vatican City

Bishop Antonello Mura, Bishop of Nuoro, Italy

Archbishop Robert Christopher Ndlovu, Archbishop of Harare, Apostolic Administrator of Masvingo, Zimbabwe

Bishop Manuel Nin, O.S.B., Apostolic Exarch for Byzantine Rite Catholics in Greece, Titular Bishop of Carcabia, Greece

Cardinal Seán Patrick O’malley, O.F.M. Cap., Archbishop of Boston, USA

Bishop Stefan Oster, S.D.B., Bishop of Passau, Germany

Cardinal Marc Ouellet, P.S.S., Prefect Emeritus of the Dicastery for Bishops, Vatican City

Bishop Joseph-Csaba Pál, Bishop of Timişoara, Romania

Cardinal Oscar Andres Rodriguez Maradiaga, S.D.B., Archivist Emeritus of Tegucicalpa, Honduras

Archbishop Angel S. Rossi, S.J., Archbishop of Córdoba, Argentina

Archbishop Grzegorz Ryś, Archbishop of Lodz, Polonia

Archbishop Joseph Spiteri, Apostolic Nuncio to Mexico, Mexico

Bishop Radoslaw Zmitrowicz, O.M.I., Auxiliary Bishop of Kamyanets-Podilskyi, Ukraine

Enrique Alarcón García, president of the Christian Fraternity of People with Disabilities of Spain, Spagna

Father Riccardo Battocchio, Rector of the Almo Collegio Capranica in Rome, President of the Italian Theological Association, Italy

Sister Simona Brambilla, Superior General of the Consolata Missionaries, Italy

Father Luis Miguel Castillo Gualda, Rector of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Valencia, Spain

Father Giacomo Costa, S.J., president of the San Fedele Cultural Foundation of Milan; National Spiritual Companion of the Italian Christian Workers’ Associations, A.C.L.I., Italy

Cristina Inogés Sanz, Theologian, Spain

Father James Martin, S.J., USA

Sister Maria De Los Dolores Palencia, C.S.J.

Sister Samuela Maria Rigon, S.S.M., Superior General of the Sisters of Our Lady of Sorrows, Italy

Father Elias Royón, Vicar for Consecrated Life of the Archdiocese of Madrid, Spain

Father Antonio Spadaro, S.J., director of La Civiltà Cattolica, Italy

Sister Xiskya Lucia Valladares, Nicaragua, co-founder of Imisión, director of the Communication Department of the Centro De Enseñanza Superior Alberta Giménez (CESAG), Comillas Pontifical University

Sister María De Fátima Vieira Diniz, S.Smo.S., Superior General of the Servants of the Blessed Sacrament, Venezuela

From the Continental Assemblies (also selected by Pope Francis)

Africa

Father Vitalis Chinedu Anaehobi

Father Michel Jean-Paul Guillaud

Sister Ester Maria Lucas, F.C.

Sister Josée Ngalula, R.S.A.

Norha Kofognotera Nonterah

Father Agbonkhianmeghe Emmanuel Orobator, S.I.

Sheila Leocádia Pires

Sister Marie Solange Randrianirin, F.S.P.

Sister Solange Sahon Sia, N.D.C.

Father Rafael Simbine Junior

North America

Sami Aoun

Cynthia Bailey Manns

Catherine Clifford

Richard Coll

Chantal Desmarais

Father Ivan Montelongo

Wyatt Olivas

Julia Osęka

Sister Leticia Salazar

Linda Staudt

Latin America

Erika Sally Aldunate Loza

Jesus Alberto Briceño Cherubini

Sister Rosmery Castañeda Montoya

José Manuel De Urquidi Gonzalez

María Cristina Dos Anjos Da Conceição

Sister Gloria Liliana Franco Echeverri, O.D.N.

Sônia Gomes De Oliveira

Father Francisco Gerardo Hernández Rojas

Valeria Karina López

Néstor Esaú Velásquez Téllez

Asia

Vanessa Cheng Siu Wai

Rosalia Minus Cho Cho Tin

Father Joel Casimiro Da Costa Pinto, O.F.M.

Father Clarence Devadass

Father William La Rousse, M.M.

Father Momoko Nishimura, S.E.M.D.

Estela Padilla

Anna Teresa Peter Amandus

Sister Lalitha Thomas, S.J.T.

Father Vimal Tirimanna

Eastern Churches and the Middle East

Adel Abolouh

Father Khalil Alwan, M.L.

Saad Antti

Sister Houda Fadoul

Sister Caroline Jarjis

Rita Kouroumilian

Caroline Rafaat Awd Narouz

Claire Said

Lina Taschmann

Matthew Thomas

Europe

Aleksander Banka

Geert De Cubber

Giuseppina De Simone

Sister Anne Ferrand

Helena Jeppesen-Spuhler

Sister Anna Mirijam Kaschner, C.P.S.

Father Jan Nowotnik

Oksana Pimenova

Father Luis Manuel Romero Sanchez

Maria Sabov

Oceania

Manuel Beazley

Trudy Dantis

Renée Köhler-Ryan

John Lochowiak

Father Denis Nacorda

Kelly Paget

Sister Mary Angela Perez, R.S.M.

Father Sijeesh Pullenkunnel

Susan Sela

Grace Wrackia

Under-Secretaries of the General Secretariat of the Synod

Bishop Luis Marín De San Martín, O.S.A., Titular Bishop of Suliana

Sister Nathalie Becquart, X.M.C.J.

Members of the Ordinary Council

Cardinal Charles Maung Bo, S.D.B., Archbishop of Yangon, Myanmar

Bishop Jaime Calderón Calderón of f Tapachula, Mexico

Cardinal Joseph Coutts, Archbishop of Karachi, Pakistan

Archbishop Anthony Colin Fisher, O.P., of Sydney, Australia

Archbishop Andrew Nkea Fuanya of Bamenda, Cameroon

Cardinal Oswald Gracias, Archbishop of Bombay, India

Cardinal Gérald Cyprien Lacroix, I.S.P.X., Archbishop of Québec, Canada

Archbishop Gabriel Mbilingi, C.S.Sp., of Lubango, Angola

Cardinal Dieudonné Nzapalainga, C.S.Sp., Archbishop of Bangui, Central African Republic

Cardinal Juan José Omella Omella, Archbishop of Barcelona, Spain

Cardinal Sérgio Da Rocha, Metropolitan Archbishop of São Salvador Da Bahia, Brazil

Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, O.P., Archbishop of Wien, Austria, president of the Episcopal Conference of Austria

Cardinal Daniel Fernando Sturla Berhouet, S.D.B., Archbishop of Montevideo, Uruguay

Cardinal Joseph William Tobin, C.Ss.R., Archbishop of Newark, USA

His Beatitude Ignace Youssef Iii Younan, Syrian Patriarch of Antioch, head of the Synod of the Syrian Catholic Church, Lebanon

Cardinal Matteo Maria Zuppi, Archbishop of Bologna, Italy

Special Guests

Father Alois, Prior of the Taizé Community, France

Luca Casarini, Mediterranea Saving Humans, Italy

Monsignor Severino Dianich, theologian, Italy

Eva Fernández Mateo, Catholic Action

Margaret Karram, Work of Mary-Focolare Movement

Father Hervé Legrand, O.P., theologian, France

Monsignor Armando Matteo, secretary of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, Vatican City

Father Thomas Schwartz, Germany

Other Participants

Spiritual Assistants

Father Timothy Peter Joseph Radcliffe, O.P., Oxford Monastery, Great Britain

Mother Maria Ignazia Angelini, O.S.B., Monastery of Viboldone, Italy

Referent for the Liturgy

Father Matteo Ferrari, O.S.B. Cam., Della Comunità Di Camaldoli


Experts and Facilitators

Father Dario Vitali, Italy, Coordinator of Theological Experts

Wissam Abdo, Lebanon

Father Adelson Araújo Dos Santos, S.I., Brazil

Father Paul Béré, S.J., Burkina Faso

Sister María Luisa Berzosa González, F.I., Spain

Monsignor Philippe Bordeyne, France

Monsignor Alphonse Borras, Belgium

Father Andrea Bozzolo, S.D.B., Italy

Father Pedro Manuel Brassesco, Argentina

Father Agenor Brighenti, Brazil

loy Bueno De La Fuente, Spain

Monsignor Valentino Bulgarelli, Italy

Father Juan Jorge Bytton Arellano, S.J., Peru

Sister Daniela Adriana Cannavina, C.M.R., Colombia

Sister María Suyapa Cacho Álvarez, Honduras

Father Carlo Casalone, S.J., Italy

Sandra Chaoul, Lebanon

Sister Maria Cimperman, R.S.C.J., USA

Monsignor Piero Coda, Italy

Professor Eamon Conway, Ireland

Sandie Cornish, Australia

Father Ian Cribb, S.J., Australia

Professor Klára Antonia Csiszár, Romania

Father Hyacinthe Destivelle, O.P., France

Sister Anne Béatrice Faye, C.I.C., Ivory Coast

Paolo Foglizzo, Italy

Father Carlos Maria Galli, Argentina

Iris Gonzales, Dominican Republic

Father Gaby Alfred Hachem, Lebanon

Sister Philomena Shizue Hirota, M.M.B., Japan

Austen Ivereigh, Great Britain

Claire Jonard, Belgium

Sister Jolanta Maria Kafka, R.M.I., Poland

Christina Kheng, Singapore

Leonardo Lima Gorosito, Uruguay

Mauricio Lopez Oropeza, Ecuador

Sister Laurence Loubières, X.M.C.J., Canada

Professor Rafael Luciani, Venezuela

Father Anthony Makunde, Tanzania

Father Miguel Martin, S.J., Brazil

Father David Mc Callum, S.J., USA

Father Vito Mignozzi, Italy

Sister Paola Nelemta Ngarndiguimal, S.P.C., Chad

Susan Pascoe, Australia

Father Asaeli Raass, S.V.D., Fiji Islands

Sister Yvonne Reungoat, F.M.A., France

Father Gilles Routhier, Canada

Anna Rowlands, Great Britain

Father Ormond Rush, Australia

Father José San Jose Prisco, Spain

Monsignor Pierangelo Sequeri, Italy

Thomas Söding, Germany

Sister Nicoletta Vittoria Spezzati, A.S.C., Italy

Father Christoph Theobald, S.I., France

Erica Tossani, Italy

Monsignor Juan Fernando Usma Gómez, Colombia

Myriam Wijlens, Holland

General Secretariat of the Synod

Father Justo Ariel Beramendi Orellana

Thierry Bonaventura, Communication Manager

Father Pasquale Bua

Pietro Camilli

Alfonso Salvatore Cauteruccio

Andrea Cimino

Karina Fujisawa Simonetti

Tanyja George, M. Id.

Father Ambrogio Ivan Samus

Noemi Sanches

Monsignor Tomasz Trafny

Federica Vivian

Paola Volterra Toppano

Pedro Paulo Oliveira Weizenmann

Sister Marie-Kolbe Zamora, O.S.F.

[…]

30 Comments

  1. “The bishop of Essen added that the Synodal Way and its calls for change in Church teaching related to sexuality, ordination, and governance were aimed at addressing the systemic causes of the sex abuse crisis, which has rocked the Catholic Church in Germany over the past decade…”

    Nonsense.

    There is no credible data or study that Church doctrine was responsible for the sex-abuse crisis. With an 85%-90% male-on-male contact and an average age of a beginning teenager, real evidence may be found in the hierarchy structure that not only looks the other way regarding active homosexuality but manages to promote it with statements such as the above.

    Reply

    • Exactly right. For example, neither the 2004 nor the 2011 John Jay report found a causal relationship between the vow of celibacy and the incidence of priestly sexual abuse. When facts like this get in the way of the bishop’s narrative about causes of the sexual abuse crisis, it leads me to believe he is attempting to exploit the mistaken beliefs of a still-credulous faithful in order to advance the agenda described in this article. That is grossly dishonest, and His Excellency should be deeply ashamed.

      Reply

    • Agree completely.
      The root cause of the sexual abuse crisis was the admission to seminaries and later
      ordination—perhaps sometimes unknowingly but other times knowingly—of men living an active gay lifestyle. This Bishop’s solution to that crisis is to make gay OK within the Church and probably within the clergy as well. No wonder the Faith is in such drastic decline in Germany.
      St Peter Damian pray for us.

      Reply

  3. We read: “the Church must keep Christ at the center but set aside its “habit and tradition” [and then the asserted need for] change in Church teaching related to sexuality, ordination, and governance [which] were aimed at addressing the systemic causes of the sex abuse crisis, which has rocked the Catholic Church in Germany over the past decade.”

    Clever fig leaf, that!

    Reading the real “signs of the times,” why would ANYBODY want to enter the seminary under a system (systemic!) which equates the truth of human morality, and other ecclesial certainties, with accretions of “habit”? About “habit” and a double-minded will, we have this from some dead white dude from North Africa, butt from outside the German bubble:

    “…it is no monstrous thing partly to will a thing and partly not to will it, but it is a sickness of the mind [!]. Although it is supported by truth, it does not wholly rise up, since it is heavily encumbered by HABIT. Therefore there are two wills, since one of them is not complete, and what is lacking in one is present in the other” (St. Augustine, “Confessions,” Book 8, Ch.9:21).

    This from a real man who knew personally and for over thirteen years the sickness of mind and will that now consume the Synodal Way. Butt, like Cardinal Kasper once said so synodo-polygonally: “who are those Africans to tell us what to do?”

    Reply

  4. “Many people have asked me, ‘Are you still Catholics and part of the Catholic Church?”

    No, really? Why would anyone ask you that Bishop? No one has ever said such a thing to me. I guess they just assume I’m Catholic.

    Anyway, ignore those tax payers. You be you.

    Reply

  5. This bishop is clearly lacking the reality of the teaching of the Lord —- “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.”

    Reply

  6. How would his point apply to the Germany of the 1930’s?

    Would he object to the Church contradicting the signs of those times?

    Would he favor taking note of Germany’s particular cultural situation at that time to justify other controversial proposals? Say, regarding extermination camps?

    As someone wiser than me put it on CWR in recent days, the Bergoglio-era church is downstream from culture. And, considering the sewer-like culture we’re referring to, the Church under Bergoglio is going to suffer terribly.

    Reply

  7. What might I say, when I have urge to say something meaningful, when I lack the wide spectrum of academic research that would enable me to avoid repetition? Perhaps a personal reflection that relates to ‘the signs of the times’ and Franz-Josef Overbeck diocese of Essen.
    When in Rome I didn’t follow the pattern of doing what Rome’s doctoral candidates did. I tackled a subject, intuition in Thomas Aquinas that was anathema. Finally found a wonderful professor willing to direct, Fr Richard Mathes rector of the German College, philosophy lecturer at the Angelicum. Fr Mathes was from Essen. Whether it was a perceived tendency in Germans to react against Nazi arrogance, Mathes was a kind, but matter of fact man. Essen, located in the Rhineland, the largest Catholic population aside from Bavaria and the South, the home of the Krupp family and armaments, a place with long history of Catholicism at odds with expanding Lutheran Prussia. That tendency to react against Nazi arrogance, perhaps an excessive pride that preceded Nazism seemed visible in the notorious case of Essen’s child rapist Fr Peter Hullermann, and the long, sordid history of transfer to Card Josef Ratzinger’s see the Archdiocese of Munich Freising [Our beloved Benedict admittedly misspoke about unawareness]. Why the accommodation when facts were made public, finally exposed years later by Der Spiegel? That reactive tendency to Nazi intolerance seemed at play.
    Bishop Overbeck’s reaction to the Synod Follies fits the compunctive mindset of postwar Germany. I refuse to use insulting language toward Germany and Germans, the [barely] Catholic Church it is now. Or opine that the true faith will disappear. Persons, Germans I’ve met besides Fr Mathes support that belief.

    Reply

  8. “…Overbeck alluded to exploring an end to mandatory priestly celibacy by noting that in his 13 years as Bishop of Essen, he has only ordained 15 new priests, while 300 priests have died. The Diocese of Essen, he said, currently has no seminarians in formation…”.
    Look in the mirror, Overbeck. Take responsibility yourself and resign NOW!!!

    Reply

    • He should get missionary priests to come serve in his diocese. Many African priests serve in my diocese in the USA, as missionary priests, to help with the priest shortage. Our diocesan seminary is growing rapidly, with a good bishop. Maybe the Bishop of Essen should consider becoming a good bishop and see if vocations increase!

      Reply

  9. Its clear the German Bishops regret not being Martin Luther. I suppose they think this is now their chance. Its also clear they are heading toward schism in a vain attempt to force acceptance of what is clearly both abnormal and sinful sexual behavior. To accomplish this, they are trying to gain a change in church theology. Sadly, this Pope may choose to accommodate them. It is disgusting, and all they will gain in the end is to expedite the destruction of the Church.

    Reply

  10. Vatican II instructed the Church to adapt its theologies of our divinely inspired dogmas and doctrines to our modern circumstances so as to better convince the World that Jesus is the Truth and the Way.

    Vatican II absolutely did not ask the Church to change its dogmas, doctrine, and theology to match the World’s circumstances.

    Reply

  12. I am so tired of this nonsense from the German Church (and others).
    No seminarians?
    I agree with the bishop that it’s probably a sign. The question is in the interpretation of the sign.

    Reply

  13. I am thinking that German Bishop Franz-Josef Overbeck, of the German Synodal Way, participating in Pope Francis’ Synod on Synodality, is actually Jesus’ intention for His, Matthew 26:31 ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be dispersed’. Like the dispersed Germans, when it comes to any Universal Catholic Church authority, just let all Catholics be dispersed.

    Zechariah 13:7 Oracles Concerning the End of False Prophecy. The Song of the Sword.
    Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, against the one who is my associate—oracle of the LORD of hosts. Strike the shepherd that the sheep may be scattered; I will turn my hand against the little ones. In all the land—oracle of the LORD—two thirds of them will be cut off and perish, and one third will be left. I will bring the one third through the fire; I will refine them as one refines silver, and I will test them as one tests gold. They will call upon my name, and I will answer them; I will say, “They are my people,” and they will say, “The LORD is my God.”

    It is Jesus who splits out of His mouth two thirds of His Catholic Church, to be intentionally ‘led into temptation’, and follow the ‘Desolating Abomination’ ‘Standing in the Holy Place, into hell. The keeper Catholics, one third of Jesus’ Catholic Church are to be sanctified by Jesus’ Faithful Catholic Apostolic Successors, and refined to become Jesus’ glorious post-apocalyptic, ‘Holy City’, ‘New Jerusalem’, Bride of the Lamb, Messianic Reign, Catholic Church.

    Matthew 26:31
    ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be dispersed’

    USCCB NABRE Bible Note for Matthew 26:31
    Will have…shaken: literally, “will be scandalized in me”; see note on Mt 24:9–12. I will strike…dispersed: cf. Zec 13:7.

    Matthew 24 The Destruction of the Temple Foretold

    USCCB NABRE Bible Note for Matthew 24:9-12
    Matthew has used Mk 13:9–12 in his missionary discourse (Mt 10:17–21) and omits it here. Besides the sufferings, including death, and the hatred of all nations that the disciples will have to endure, there will be worse affliction within the church itself. This is described in Mt 24:10–12, which are peculiar to Matthew. Will be led into sin: literally, “will be scandalized,” probably meaning that they will become apostates; see Mt 13:21 where “fall away” translates the same Greek word as here. Betray: in the Greek this is the same word as the hand over of Mt 24:9. The handing over to persecution and hatred from outside will have their counterpart within the church. False prophets: these are Christians; see note on Mt 7:15–20. Evildoing: see Mt 7:23. Because of the apocalyptic nature of much of this discourse, the literal meaning of this description of the church should not be pressed too hard. However, there is reason to think that Matthew’s addition of these verses reflects in some measure the condition of his community.

    Someone has to prepare Christ’s Bride, the Catholic Church, to become Jesus’ glorious, post-apocalyptic, ‘Holy City’, ‘The New Jerusalem’, for Jesus to Second Coming, Come and enter His Presence on earth, into It. We can clearly see this will not be Pope Francis and His Synod on Synodality doing this work.

    Divine Mercy in My Soul, 429
    I heard these words spoken distinctly and forcefully within my soul, You will prepare the world for My final coming.

    Revelation 21:9 The New Jerusalem.
    “Come here. I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.” He took me in spirit to a great, high mountain and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God. It gleamed with the splendor of God. Its radiance was like that of a precious stone, like jasper, clear as crystal…. I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God almighty and the Lamb. The city had no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gave it light, and its lamp was the Lamb. The nations will walk by its light, and to it the kings of the earth will bring their treasure.

    Reply

  14. German Bishop at Synod (“Walking Together”) says we must stop “clinging to habits and traditionalisms” including APOSTOLIC TRADITION, by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf, October 22, 2023.

    Excerpt (from X):

    Diane Montagna
    @dianemontagna

    I was not quite clear on what Bishop Overbeck meant in his response, so as soon as the briefing had ended, I went up to him & twice asked explicitly if he meant we need to set aside Apostolic Tradition—and twice he said “yes”, that this is what he meant. (4/4) #SynodonSynodality
    2:40 PM · Oct 21, 2023

    Reply

  15. This guy keeps getting better and better. Now he wants to throw out Apostolic Tradition/s. Can we hear from some of the non-bishops, please?

    Reply

  16. Faith in the presence and the workings of the Almighty was awakened by the Asian Jesus of Nazareth in his admirers and their challengers of his time and place. Formal frameworks and structures to contain such faith has been a gift of the Global West and the Global North. Missionaries from the Global South should be invited to evangelize those areas that are in dire need of liberation from old and antiquated habits. Awakening in people, the dormant deep down lying faith in God is certainly not an impossible task.

    Reply

    • “Missionaries from the Global South should be invited to evangelize those areas that are in dire need of liberation from old and antiquated habits.”

      Dr.Cajetan Coelho,
      I’m probably misunderstanding your comments but from my experience priests & religious from the Global South are evangelizing those who have lost their connection to Catholic Tradition.
      Perhaps you meant old & antiquated vices? We certainly hold on to those in the West with a death grip.

      Reply

  17. The last sentence in the above article as to how the Bishop found solace in the Synodal format of ‘conversation in the spirit method ‘ of listening, without asking questions and silent prayer …as what our times need , what the Holy Father has been trying to model in the midst of accusations and misunderstandings ..

    http://www.seraphim.my/divinemercy/diary/text/DiaryI.htm – 425 -‘I saw a soul being separted from the body amidst terrible torments ..was a soul who was full of world’s appluase and honors ..’ – St.Faustina , chosen by The Lord to be a sign for our times ; the related Divine Will writings through the mystic SOG Luisa ,also on line. All such – may it help to bring persons back to the faith and its blessings world over !

    Reply

  18. Fundamental “traditional” (and habitual) Catholic common sense: We sin. When we sin, we often lie to ourselves that we haven’t sinned. In some cases, we habitually lie to ourselves that our favorite sins are not sins. We look for ways to form our entire belief system as a way of life to convince ourselves that our sins are not sins, and the sinful side of the theology industry is there to help support our delusions by “rethinking” sins into non-existence. Walking with us and accompanying us. The sins of theologians contriving lies to accompany sins are among the signs of the times that the times are evil. There used to be a time when Catholic common sense was catholic. It was common sensical enough that even a progressive prelate could understand what an adolescent can understand, that seminaries advertising and recruiting in gay porn magazines might have something more to do with a vocations crisis than not turning to ordaining pro-abortion feminists as a fantasy solution. Catholic common sense knows that plumbing solutions to problems never work. At the risk of being a traditional habitual backwardist, the Church receives the number of vocations it deserves. We need to become more deserving.

    Reply

  19. We are called to read the signs of the time with the light of the Gospel not read the Gospel in the light of the signs of the times. The first keeps us centered in Christ, tha latter centered on the ever changing times.

    Reply

  20. Where are the good Cardinals and Bishops at this Synod? Bishop Barron is all over social media but he can’t hold a press conference to correct these false teachers?

    Reply

  21. Interesting comment about the diocese of Essen in The Pillar. Apparently there was a large influx of Catholics into this industrial area, the Ruhr, at one time. The Church, too elitist, generally ignored the needs of these working class people.
    It has been noted that the Church today has lost the working class, for the most part.

    Reply

  22. Interesting comment about the diocese of Essen in The Pillar. Apparently there was a large influx of Catholics into this industrial area, the Ruhr, at one time. The Church, too elitist, generally ignored the needs of these working class people.
    It has been noted that the (western) Church today has lost the working class, for the most part.

    Reply

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