Story at a glance
- Gay marriage has been recognized in Germany since 2017.
- Dozens of churches in Germany are defying a pronouncement by the Vatican banning the blessing of same-sex unions.
- “The homophobia of my church makes me angry, and I am ashamed of it,” said a Jesuit Reverend from the German city of Berlin.
About 100 churches across the country of Germany are defiantly demonstrating their support for same-sex unions. Despite a recent “Holy See” pronouncement that priests cannot bless LGBTQ+ unions, the country’s powerful Roman Catholic progressives are moving forward with their blessings.
These same-sex union blessings at open worship services are the latest response from German Catholics to a document released in March by the Vatican’s orthodoxy office, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which stated Catholic clergy are not allowed to bless same-sex unions, because God “cannot bless sin,” The Associated Press reports.
“The document pleased conservatives and disheartened advocates for LGBTQ Catholics around the globe,” the AP wrote. “But the response has been particularly acute in Germany, where the German church has been at the forefront of opening discussion on hot-button issues such as the church’s teaching on homosexuality as part of a formal process of debate and reform.”
Now, the dozens of church services celebrating blessings of gay unions are the latest in a series of tensions between conservatives and progressives, with conservatives worried that part of the German church might be heading into schism, or a split of a religious group into different sections as a result of a difference in beliefs.
These fears are perhaps not unfounded, as Germany is actually no stranger to schism. It was there that Martin Luther launched the Reformation, some 500 years ago.
Pope Francis, who has acted as a champion for a more decentralized church structure, has reminded the German hierarchy that it must follow Rome’s lead during its reform process, known as a “synodal path.”
In the progressive city of Berlin, the Rev. Jan Korditschke will lead blessings for same-sex couples at a worship service May 16.
“I am convinced that homosexual orientation is not bad, nor is homosexual love a sin,” Korditschke told The Associated Press in an interview Friday. “I want to celebrate the love of homosexuals with these blessings because the love of homosexuals is something good.”
The 44-year-old said it was important that LGBTQ+ people can show themselves within the Catholic Church and gain more visibility long term. He said he was not afraid of repercussions by the Vatican.
“I stand behind what I am doing, though it is painful for me that I cannot do it in tune with the church leadership,” Korditschke said, adding that “the homophobia of my church makes me angry and I am ashamed of it.”
“Love Wins”
Not everyone is a fan of the grassroots initiative for gay blessings, which is called “Liebe Gewinnt” or “Love Wins.” The head of the German Bishops Conference last month criticized it, saying that the blessings “are not suitable as an instrument of church political manifestations or political actions.”
The movement towards acceptance of same-sex unions continues to be driven forward despite criticism, though, as it gain supporters such as Germany’s powerful lay organization, the Central Committee of German Catholics. Otherwise known as ZdK, the organization has been advocating for gay blessings since 2015, and positioned itself once more in favor of them after March.
“These are celebrations of worship in which people express to God what moves them,” Birgit Mock, the ZdK’s spokeswoman for family affairs, told the AP.
“The fact that they ask for God’s blessing and thank him for all the good in their lives — also for relationships lived with mutual respect and full of love — that is deeply based on the Gospel,” Mock said, adding that she herself was planning to attend a church service with gay blessings in the western city of Hamm on Monday at which she would pray for ”the success of the synodal path in which we, as a church, recognize sexuality as a positive strength.”
The ZdK has been taking part in the “synodal path” meetings for more than a year with the German Bishops Conference. They are due to conclude in the fall. The meetings include talks about allowing priests to get married, the ordination of women and a different understanding of sexuality, among other reforms. The process was launched as part of the response to revelations of clergy sexual abuse.
“We’re struggling in Germany with a lot of seriousness and intensive theological discourses for the right path,” Mock added. “Things cannot continue the way they did — this is what the crimes and cover-ups of sexual abuse showed us.”
“We need systemic changes, also regarding a reassessment of the ecclesiastical morality of sexuality,” Mock said.
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