German bishops submit lay governance proposals to Vatican

(LifeSiteNews) — The head of the German Bishops’ Conference (DBK) has handed over the statutes of a proposed “Synodal Conference,” a body that would enable Catholic laity to share in the bishops’ authority, to the Vatican for approval.

Bishop Heiner Wilmer submitted the statutes for a future Synodal Conference of the Catholic Church in Germany for recognition by the Vatican on Tuesday.

These statutes were first adopted by the General Assembly of the Central Committee of German Catholics (ZdK) and by the General Assembly of the German Bishops’ Conference.

The Synodal Conference was conceived as a continuation of the heretical Synodal Way that seeks to change Church doctrine. In the conference, bishops, other clergy, and laity will discuss and decide on ecclesiastical matters together. According to the statutes, the Synodal Conference will consist of the 27 diocesan bishops of Germany, 27 lay members of the ZdK, and 27 other Catholics (potentially clergy or laity) voted for by the Synodal Assembly.

This structure, which grants the laity authority in ecclesiastical matters, clearly violates the hierarchical and sacramental nature of the Catholic Church. Some conservative German bishops, like Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki, Bishop Rudolf Voderholzer, and Bishop Stefan Oster, have therefore decided not to participate in the Synodal Assemblies anymore.

READ: German bishops adopt text of ‘Synodal Conference’ seeking to give Church authority to laity

“In my discussion with Archbishop Filippo Iannone, O.Carm., prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, I explained the statutes, building on the work of my predecessor, Bishop Dr. Georg Bätzing, as well as the numerous preliminary discussions conducted by Bishop Dr. Franz-Josef Overbeck,” Wilmer said after handing over the statutes.

“Recognition is requested so that we may apply the statutes and establish a synodal conference for the Church in Germany. I am glad and grateful that today we have taken another step forward on this long journey of the Synodal Path. I am equally grateful for how closely this process in Germany has been integrated with the global synodal movement over the past months,” he continued.

The Vatican needs to approve the statutes in order for the Synodal Conference to move forward. However, Vatican officials have expressed concerns about the plan, stating that the authority for a diocese must remain solely with the diocesan bishop.