Germany’s Push for Women Priests

The bishops of Germany continue pushing their so-called Synodal Way along ahead of schedule. This past weekend they voted to advance a set of controversial documents expanding multiple evils. Church Militant's William Mahoney looks at the main takeaways to date.

Synodal Way members are clamoring for the ordination of women and lay participation in bishop appointments.

In the third of five synodal assemblies, participants voted 174–30 over the weekend to move forward with a document calling for women priests. The document, titled, "Women In Ministries and Offices In the Church," calls for the exploration of "a concrete correction and redefinition of the situation and position of women in the Church, which also includes access to the sacramental ministry."

This, despite crystal-clear, immutable Church teaching that the Church is incapable of ordaining women.

Participants also voted 177–24 to move forward with a text calling for the laity to play a part in the selection of new bishops.

The drive to ordain women and have laypeople help choose bishops comes on the heels of episcopal calls for an end to priestly celibacy and an alteration of Church teaching on homosexuality.

Luxembourg's archbishop, Jesuit Cdl. Jean-Claude Hollerich, recently claimed modern science somehow trumps Church teaching on the intrinsic wickedness of homosexual acts. Hollerich further asserted practicing homosexuals have a home in the Church.

Meanwhile, Munich and Freising's bishop, Cdl. Reinhard Marx, recently called for married priests. Marx is one of the Synodal Way's biggest cheerleaders, supporting a host of innovations contrary to Church teaching. 

It seems most Synodal Way participants are chomping at the bit to establish another Protestant church, this one a democracy of deviants and dissidents that goes far beyond anything Martin Luther wanted.

There will be two more synodal assemblies, with the Synodal Way set to conclude in 2023.