In an opinion piece on the LGBT Catholic Resource website, a German layman says the controversial process aims to change Church teaching on homosexuality.
The German “synodal way” aims to change the teaching of the Church on homosexuality by proposing “a conscious stand against the current Catholic catechism”, according to one of the main protagonists of the controversial process.
Marc Frings, general secretary of the Central Committee of German Catholics (ZdK), said the “Synodal Way” – sometimes called “Synodal Way” – was “a conscious statement against the current Catholic catechism, which has been critical and denigrating the homosexuality since the mid-1970s and still blames homosexual activity as a sin.
His comments were published July 17 in German and English by “Outreach,” a website edited by Jesuit Father James Martin who describes himself as an “LGBT Catholic resource.”
The title of the opinion piece referred to the controversial process, which is not a synod, such as “the German synod”. Contacted by CNA Deutsch with a request for clarification, Frings said he asked “Outreach” to correct the error, explaining that he did not write the title himself.
Citing the “Synodal Way”, Frings further wrote: “The recognition of the equality and legitimacy of non-heterosexual orientations, their practices and relationships, as well as the elimination of discrimination based on sexual orientation, is urgently required”.
The official also pointed to a text from the forum on “Life in Successful Relationships: Living Love in Sexuality and Partnership”, which not only contains comments on changing views on homosexuality, but also on masturbation, marriage, sexual lust and other related topics.
The German layman also linked the “Synodal Way” to a major “LGBT” campaign in Germany called “#OutInChurch – For a Church Without Fear”, which was launched on January 24.
The campaign called for a review of what it described as “defamatory and outdated” expressions of Catholic doctrine, reported CNA Deutsch, CNA’s German-language press partner.
In a seven-point list of demands, organizers wrote, “Defamatory and outdated statements of Church doctrine on sexuality and gender must be revised on the basis of human theological and scientific findings.”
“This is of the utmost importance, especially given the global church’s responsibility for the human rights of LGBTIQ+ people.”
The initiative, publicly supported by 125 people including priests, religious teachers and church workers, also called for blessings and “access to the sacraments” for same-sex couples.
The campaign – launched with great publicity in Germany, accompanied by a television program – was welcomed on behalf of the episcopal conference by Bishop Helmut Dieser, president of the “Synodal Way” forum on “Life in Successful Relationships”.
Organizers staged a day of protest in response to the statement by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith that the Church does not have the power to bless same-sex unions.
The Vatican statement, released with the approval of Pope Francis, sparked protests across the German-speaking Catholic world.
Several bishops voiced support for same-sex couple blessings, while churches flew “LGBT pride” flags, and a group of more than 200 theology professors signed a statement criticizing the Vatican.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church says: “The number of men and women who have deep homosexual tendencies is not negligible.
“This inclination, objectively disordered, constitutes for the majority of them a test. They must be accepted with respect, compassion and sensitivity. Any sign of unfair discrimination against them should be avoided.
“These people are called to fulfill the will of God in their lives and, if they are Christians, to unite to the sacrifice of the Lord’s Cross the difficulties they may encounter because of their condition”, he continues.
He adds: “Homosexual people are called to chastity. By the virtues of self-control which teach them interior freedom, sometimes by the support of disinterested friendship, by prayer and sacramental grace, they can and must gradually and resolutely approach Christian perfection.
