Diocesan council discusses church participation and reforms!

Diocesan council discusses church participation and reforms!

The general assembly of the Diocesan Council of the Diocese of Eichstätt took place last weekend and the topics on the agenda were complex. In the midst of a lively exchange, not only church participation and structural changes were intensively discussed, but also the challenges that come with coming to terms with sexual violence. Peter Grimm, chairman of the Independent Comprehensive Commission, provided information about the current status of efforts in the area of ​​sexual abuse, a topic that Gregor Lauenburger, school chaplain from Essen, also considered urgent and questioned its connection to power structures in the church. In this context, the need for structural changes to create a safer environment becomes clear.

The first day of the event was characterized by informative exchanges. Numerous reports from church counseling services were presented that dealt with supporting people in a wide variety of life situations. The focus of the second day was on participation. Here Roland Schwab reported on a working group that is dealing with the question of how church participation can be placed on a broader basis. He also presented a draft of the statutes of the planned “Diocesan Forum”, which is designed as a central platform for the exchange of information between all committees.

Structural changes and diocese council

Cathedral Chapter Michael Alberter described the Diocese Council as a synodal transitional body and explained that its statutes come into force on October 1st. This weekend, four delegates for the diocesan council were also elected to the diocese council: Eva Gottstein, Renate Großhauser, Albert Pfaller and Roland Schwab. The diocesan forum is intended to help advance the structural changes in the church and the timetable for further development can be used to better prepare for the challenges ahead.

A central topic of the discussions was reflection on one's own power structure in the church. Lauenburger drew attention to the monarchist traits in the decision-making process that prevail in many communities. Decisions often come down to the person of the priest or bishop, which for many can be seen as an advantage but also as a hindrance. Openness to criticism and the possibility of dialogue are essential to create a real feeling of participation, says Lauenburger. This is also reflected in the profound problems associated with sexualized abuse, which are often directly linked to abuse of power, as Deutschlandfunk shows.

Dealing with sexualized violence

In Germany, the issue of sexualized violence by Catholic clergy has been addressed for over 15 years, but reactions vary between individual dioceses. While progress is being made in addressing the issue in some dioceses, there is no comprehensive action in other regions. This is exemplified in the Archdiocese of Cologne, where a report was initially kept secret, which led to a conflict with victims of abuse. International examples, such as the comprehensive investigation in France, also make it clear that the pressure on the church to act is growing while its credibility is severely damaged.

In the context of these challenges, it becomes clear that not only the progress already made is important, but also the will to change and a networked dialogue within the church. The Diocesan Council took a step in this direction in the general assembly, and the committed discussions show that there is a strong need for a new form of participation and participation in the church.