German disappointment with Fiducia supplicants .

A day after the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith approved the possibility of a blessing for same-sex couples, as long as it does not resemble a wedding in any way and as long as the blessing is not given as part of a Catholic ceremony or during a civil marriage, the heavyweights of the German Church have already had time to react.

Since the German bishops and lay people on their “synodal journey” already have an agreed requirement for the church blessing of remarried couples and same-sex couples, it is now quite interesting how German Catholicism will react to the change that – for many unexpectedly – brings Monday’s document Fiducia supplicans.

Summarized in one sentence: The bishops appear cautiously enthusiastic, most lay organizations are slightly disappointed, and the vanguard of the fight for church gay marriage is a little disgusted.

Let’s note the news on the official website of the Catholic Church in Germany, katholisch.de. Introduction: This medium pushes such a progressive line that it may seem like a hacker hoax to a Slovak reader. On Tuesday, there was a comment where a Catholic priest accused the late Pope Benedict XVI of “in a way, caused a schism in the Catholic Church by responding to the challenges of postmodernity by retreating to premodern traditions.”

Another Catholic commentator defended German Muslims against the demands for their integration, as formulated by the new program of the Christian Democratic CDU: “A religious minority, which is already constantly insulted by the far more numerous German fascists, is effectively exposed to general suspicion and plundered.”

Of the voices that criticize the Vatican document from a conservative, orthodox, or traditionalist point of view, not a single one is cited by katholisch.de. That is why katholisch.de can be considered an authentic expression of mainstream German Catholicism. Such are the conditions there.

Pope Francis confirmed the document of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith.

In the editorial comments on katholisch.de, we find disappointment in particular.

To say something good, the editor Christoph Paul Hartmann calls the document “a masterpiece from the point of view of craftsmanship” but then continues with a sharp criticism: “In the many intricate pages, however, there is often a fear of too much openness and an iron insistence on the heteronormative biblical image of human beings relationships, which, with its focus on caring for women, simply cannot be applied to today’s relationships.”

The Catholic journalist Hartmann concludes his assessment with a “pale taste”: “In this respect, we must be glad that the Vatican was able to commit to at least this step – however small it is from the point of view of the West.”

Another video commentary is less diplomatic: “Imagine if the Vatican allowed breathing. But only because it cannot be confused with singing.” Commentator Thomas Halagan makes this comparison regarding the dicastery’s explanations of the blessing of homosexual couples since marriage is expressly prohibited therein. It is precisely this – same-sex marriage in the church – “however, people wish for it,” says the katholisch.de commentator.

The President of the Conference of German Bishops, Georg Bätzing, spoke with his typical cheerfulness: He praised the fact that the document tackles an important question “from a pastoral perspective and in a theologically moderate and non-agitating language.” He is “grateful for the pastoral perspective” that the papal letter offers, in the blessing, “God’s love is promised as reinforcement on the journey of life.”

Cardinal Reinhard Marx called Fiducia supplicants “friends,” which means “tottering like an egg.” It’s a German slang for a laborious writing style.

Bätzing’s predecessor, Munich Cardinal Reinhard Marx, is surprised. Marx, who until March of this year served as a member of the papal council of K9 cardinals, did not think “that it would happen so quickly that such a signal would come.” Marx revealed that in 2021 – after the Congregation for the Faith refused to bless gay couples – he told the Pope “that it doesn’t work that way.” According to his words, Francis was also not enthusiastic about the documentary then. Marx referred to Fiducia supplicans as “eiernd,” which means “tottering like an egg.” It’s a German slang for a laborious writing style.

The Bishop of Dresden, Heinrich Timmerevers, is enthusiastic: “This has never happened before in the history of the Church, this milestone that the Pope is making possible here.” For Timmerevers, the document “is not just a Christmas present; it is something more.” He admitted “a bit of guilt” on the part of the Church, “that through our moral teachings, we not only brought people together but also excluded them.” Timmerevers pointed out that the perception of the issue outside the Western world should be considered. According to him, some people in Africa are shaking their heads.

The highest-ranking German layperson, the president of the Central Committee of German Catholics ZdK, Irme Stetterová-Karpová, sees a positive in the fact that the new regulation “liberates the decision in favor of the blessing from the sacramental superstructure, which previously seemed inappropriate for the persons concerned.” With a warning undertone, she added: “Exclusive subjection by prohibition is not Catholic.” Her representative, Birgit Mock, praised Fiducia supplicans as “an important bridge that leads us to pastoral practice, as long as the foundations of sexual morality have not yet changed.”

How can Monday’s Vatican document be reasonably explained to the world?

Katholisch.de gave a broad scope to reactions from such groups within German Catholicism, which, with significant media influence, fought for the rights of homosexuals in the church.

The Out InChurch initiative responded with skepticism. Her spokesman, Rainer Teuber, said: “As long as there is still talk of irregular relationships and the blessing remains prohibited at church services, my joy is minimal. Ultimately, all existing blessing formats will be banned.”

Parish priest Bernd Mönkebüscher, fighting to change the teaching on homosexuality, is disappointed that now “there are a thousand restrictions again.”

The Catholic committee “LSBT+ Komitee” complains that the blessing that will be possible from now on is a “light blessing” that can be compared to the blessing of the sick or pilgrims: “The Roman approach disappoints and lags behind the resolutions of the synodal journey in Germany as well as well-founded and tried-and-tested guidelines.” Homosexual Catholics are said to be unable to enjoy this Christmas gift as they continue to be condemned in the Catechism.

Parish priest Bernd Mönkebüscher, fighting to change the teaching on homosexuality, is disappointed that now “there are a thousand restrictions again.” Mönkebüscher would consider it better “if it were said that we see people in all their shades and no longer make distinctions regarding the sacrament of marriage. But we are still far from that”.

To avoid giving the impression that German Catholics are only grumbling, katholisch.de ended its selection with the euphoric reaction of theologian Michael Seewald. The Münster dogmatist declares the document of the dicastery to be groundbreaking for the Church: “As far as the development of the doctrine of faith and morals is concerned, it is the most significant innovation since the end of the Second Vatican Council in 1965.”