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RELIGION

German Catholics challenge Vatican with sweeping reform drive

Germany's Catholic Church has ended a landmark renewal project by agreeing a slew of reforms including blessing same-sex marriages and allowing female deacons, at the risk of angering the Vatican.

Aachen Cathedral in Aachen, Germany.
Aachen Cathedral in Aachen, Germany. Germany's Catholic Church has voted on several reforms, including on blessing same-sex marriages and allowing female deacons. Photo by Jonathan Kemper on Unsplash

Bishops, priests, nuns and lay representatives of the Church gathered in Frankfurt from March 9-11 for the last assembly of Germany’s “Synodal Path”, a process launched in 2019 in response to the clerical sex abuse scandal.

Some 200 delegates voted on 15 separate issues, among the most high-profile of which was the overwhelming agreement to ordain women into the diaconate.

Deacons can assist priests during Mass, perform baptisms and bless marriages.

The final decision on whether to allow female deacons remains with Pope Francis.

The delegates in Frankfurt did not go so far as to vote in favour of female priests, a far more contentious issue.

The “Synodal Path” participants also backed offering blessings for same-sex couples, in defiance of the Vatican which considers homosexuality a sin.

Crucially, the measure was supported by a majority of German bishops, who have the authority to perform the ceremonies in their diocese without Vatican approval.

The result was welcomed by the head of the German Bishops’ Conference Georg Baetzing as a “very good” outcome.

Blessings for same-sex relationships are already offered in Germany by some Catholic priests, but the public show of support is likely to encourage more such ceremonies.

‘Can’t stay the same’

The German reform drive, which has included controversial discussions about priestly celibacy and changing the decision-making structure in Church, has sparked deep tensions with Rome and even triggered fears of a schism.

Baetzing played down those concerns in Frankfurt.

“The Synodal Path neither leads to a division nor is it the beginning of a national Church,” he told delegates.

Baetzing hopes the German proposals will be incorporated in Pope Francis’s global synod, which will see a discussion about Church reforms in October.

Germany’s Catholic Church remains the country’s largest religion, counting 21.6 million members in 2021.

But it has lost around three million members over the last decade and struggled to recruit new priests, spurring calls for modernisation and renewal.

Much of the exodus came in the wake of revelations of child sex abuse by clergy, mirroring similar scandals around the world.

A study commissioned by the German Bishops’ Conference and released in 2018 showed that 1,670 clergymen had committed some type of sexual attack against 3,677 minors, mostly boys, between 1946 and 2014.

However, the authors said the actual number of victims was almost certainly much higher.

The president of the lay-run Central Council of German Catholics, Irme Stetter-Karp, said she had “wished for more” change after the Frankfurt assembly.

“The Church cannot remain as it is,” said Stetter-Karp, also the co-president of the “Synodal Path”.

She praised the decision on female deacons, as well as a proposal to ask Pope Francis to re-examine priestly celibacy.

But she regretted that no progress had been made on overhauling the power structure within Germany’s Catholic Church, given a lack of the required support from bishops.

“Anyone who takes the abuse scandal seriously, must work on structural changes,” she said.

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GERMANY EXPLAINED

What is ‘Buß-und Bettag’ and why is it a public holiday in only one German state?

The German state of Saxony has a public holiday on Wednesday for Buß-und Bettag or Day of Prayer and Repentance. What is it and why does no other state mark it in the same way?

What is ‘Buß-und Bettag’ and why is it a public holiday in only one German state?

When does it take place and who marks it?

Buß- and Bettag (Day of Prayer and Repentance) takes place on the Wednesday before Ewigkeitssonntag (Eternity Sunday), also called Totensonntag, a day commemorating the dead. Another way to remember the event is that it always falls on the penultimate Wednesday before the first Advent (which is December 3rd this year).

In 2023, the Day of Prayer and Repentance is on November 22nd. 

It is an official public holiday in the eastern state of Saxony where people get a day off work, while shops and other businesses close. 

A special rule applies in Bavaria: it is not a public holiday so shops are open and people have to work. But young people do not have to go to school or nursery. For teachers, the day is free of lessons, but they still have to work. 

This can create a headache for families trying to find childcare. 

In several states the day is marked as a ‘silent day’. For this reason, there is a ban on dancing (!) in Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Saarland, according to German media reports. 

READ ALSO: What you need to know about Germany’s public holidays in 2024

Where does it come from?

Buß- und Bettag is a Protestant Christian memorial day.

It dates back to the Middle Ages, where prayers and reflection were called upon when a country was in a state of crisis or adversity. Its purpose is to urge people to pray, reflect and consider their faith.

Traditionally, there are three parts to the practicing of this holiday.

Firstly, the church intervenes before God on behalf of sinners who feel guilt. Secondly, this holiday is meant to test people’s consciousness before God. And lastly, the church should show its guardian function and devotion towards its people.

People dance

It’s not the time for dancing in some German states. Photo: shbs from Pixabay

Why is it not celebrated Germany-wide?

Buß- und Bettag used to be celebrated across the German-speaking territories and beyond. In 1878, for example, it was celebrated in 28 countries.

During that time it had not yet received a fixed date but was selected individually by countries. After receiving a fixed date from Prussia, other protestant churches followed.

Later on during the Second World War, the date was moved to Sunday to allow more working time, but then moved back to Wednesday post-war. 

It was a public holiday in all German states until 1967, before being abolished by communist East Germany.

After reunification, it was reinstated as a statutory holiday throughout Germany.  

However, at the start of 1995 it was abolished to reduce the burden on employers who became obliged to pay contributions to long-term care insurance.

Only Saxony kept the holiday. But for this reason, employees in the state have to pay a higher contribution to compulsory long-term care insurance.

How is it celebrated nowadays?

In most German states, holiday laws permit that religious employees can take this day off if they request it. For instance, protestants may want to attend a church service.

They can take the day off without a day’s holiday being deducted. However, they are not paid for it unless the employer specifically agrees to it. 

READ ALSO: These are the ‘special days’ when you can get paid time off in Germany

As we mentioned, in Bavaria “Buß- und Bettag” is a public holiday solely for school students, whereas in Saxony, it is a public holiday for everyone.

According to a YouGov survey, around two thirds of people in Germany – 62 percent – would like to see Buß-und Bettag as a nationwide public holiday once again. Meanwhile, just over 21 percent are against having it as a public holiday and 17 percent are undecided.

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