In March, Cardinal Reinhard Marx announced that the German bishops had agreed to embark on a “binding synodal process” that would address the abuse crisis, sexual morality and priestly celibacy. Now Pope Francis has intervened with a long letter to German Catholics.
The letter has prompted much debate. Was the Pope endorsing the “synodal process” or was he warning the German Church that it could lead to schism?
If the reactions of German prelates are anything to go by, the answer would appear to be “a bit of both”.
