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The Church in Germany is called to follow revealed truth rather than the spirit of the times, George Weigel, biographer of St. John Paul II, has said in response to recent comments defending the “Synodal Way” made by the head of the German bishops’ conference.
Editor's Note: Leading Catholic scholar George Weigel discussed with CNA the “Synodal Way” and recent statements by Bishop Georg Bätzing of Limburg. Below is a transcript of CNA’s conversation with Weigel.
Bishop Bätzing seems to want to walk a fine line between remaining faithful to Rome while not displeasing those who are already announcing “reforms." Is there such a middle ground? If so, what would that middle ground realistically look like?
The issue is not “Rome” vs. “reforms.” The issue is fidelity to the truth of the Gospel vs. fidelity to the Zeigeist, the “spirit of the times.” Put another way, the issue at stake in the German “synodal way” is whether divine revelation — on the indissolubility of marriage, on worthiness to receive holy communion, on the proper ordering of our human loves — is real and has binding power over time, in every cultural situation. That was also the issue at the Synods of 2014, 2015, and 2018.
Continued below.
George Weigel: Church in Germany Called to Fidelity to Revelation
Editor's Note: Leading Catholic scholar George Weigel discussed with CNA the “Synodal Way” and recent statements by Bishop Georg Bätzing of Limburg. Below is a transcript of CNA’s conversation with Weigel.
Bishop Bätzing seems to want to walk a fine line between remaining faithful to Rome while not displeasing those who are already announcing “reforms." Is there such a middle ground? If so, what would that middle ground realistically look like?
The issue is not “Rome” vs. “reforms.” The issue is fidelity to the truth of the Gospel vs. fidelity to the Zeigeist, the “spirit of the times.” Put another way, the issue at stake in the German “synodal way” is whether divine revelation — on the indissolubility of marriage, on worthiness to receive holy communion, on the proper ordering of our human loves — is real and has binding power over time, in every cultural situation. That was also the issue at the Synods of 2014, 2015, and 2018.
Continued below.
George Weigel: Church in Germany Called to Fidelity to Revelation
