A new association of laity was formed on July 12 by Bishop Marian Eleganti OSB, Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus of Chur, to oppose attempts by the German Synodal Way to change Catholic doctrine.
Bishop Eleganti said the movement, Pro Fide Ecclesiae, was created to “defend the Faith against heretical interpretations and falsifications.” German-language publication Kath.net reported that the group sought to consolidate fidelity to the Magisterium within the Church in Germany.
The newly elected chairman, Thommy Schott, criticised the terminology used by the Synodal Way and its reporting by the press, which he claimed was “conveying a certain attitude”.
He said: "However, we believe that the abolition of celibacy, women’s ordination and a sexual morality contrary to the Holy Scriptures are not 'differently Catholic', but not Catholic at all."
Noting the direction of the Synodal Way, which has sought changes to Catholic doctrine and practice on sexual ethics and women’s ordination, Schott stated: “A division of the Church in Germany, however, is a division of the universal Church, because we are one."
He added: “We will show that the faith of our fathers is the true faith.”
The proposals by the Synodal Way have led to a now longstanding division between the Church in Germany and Rome.
In 2023, Pope Francis said: “Here the danger is that something very, very ideological trickles in. When ideology gets involved in Church processes, the Holy Spirit goes home, because ideology overcomes the Holy Spirit.”
In June, the German Bishops’ Conference requested “a duly commissioned lay member of the faithful to preach in place of the homily during the celebration of the Eucharist” when priests or deacons were unavailable. The Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments denied the request.
The repeated refusals by Rome to adopt the proposals set out by the Synodal Way have led some to consider the project to have concluded. In January, Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki of Cologne announced that he would abstain from attending further assemblies, stating: “For me the Synodal Path is complete.”
However, on July 8, the Vatican appointed Bishop Christian Würtz to lead the Diocese of Eichstätt. Bishop Würtz, during his participation in the Synodal Way, voted in favour of documents supporting both women’s ordination in the Church and a reassessment of sexual morality in Catholic teaching.
