BERLIN (CNS): The German Bishops’ Conference elected Beate Gilles, a 50-year-old theologian, as its first woman general secretary during a virtual assembly that turned into a crisis meeting focused on the Church’s handling of sex abuse.
Gilles is also the first noncleric to head the bishops’ secretariat. She will take up her post on July 1.
“Last year, there was still the debate of whether a woman could hold such an office here. Now we know it is possible,” she said during a press conference on February 23.
Bishop Georg Bätzing of Limburg, president of the bishops’ conference, said the appointment was a strong signal “that the bishops are honouring their agreement to promote women to leading positions.”
Yet Gilles’ election could not distract from the fact that the Church in Germany is under pressure and at a critical point. It has fallen into disrepute among its members after a litany of accusations of inadequate investigations into and cover-ups of past sexual abuse.
‘Last year, there was still the debate of whether a woman could hold such an office here. Now we know it is possible’
Beate Gilles
“As long as there is no honest, open and complete reappraisal of sexual abuse in all German dioceses set at a high scientific level and with the same standards for all, the reform efforts … will come to nothing,” said a statement from the Catholic Lay Alliance, representing seven lay organisations.
At the centre of the storm is Rainer Maria Cardinal Woelki of Cologne. After commissioning a report to clear up past sexual abuse cases, especially how they were handled, in the Archdiocese of Cologne, he refused to make it public, saying it contained deficiencies.
He ordered a new report, scheduled to be published on March 18. Parish councils, priests and most recently the diocesan council have criticised the cardinal for his handling of the abuse investigation.
Other dioceses also are dealing with abuse allegations, but Cardinal Woelki is seen as a symbol of the cover-up in the Church, as more and more German Catholics are turning away. Others, like the lay alliance, are calling for fundamental changes.
‘And certainly there are many things that need to be clarified in the Archdiocese of Cologne. But to focus solely on the Archbishop of Cologne would be too shortsighted. On the contrary: all bishops of all 27 dioceses bear a responsibility for the situation, and we all have to face the criticism’
Bishop Bätzing
In Germany, Church affiliations are registered with the government, which collects tax on behalf of the Churches. This normally amounts to five to eight per cent of a Church member’s income.
At a news conference on February 25, Bishop Bätzing admitted that people leaving the Church would eventually affect finances and that troubles in the Archdiocese of Cologne overshadowed the spring plenary.
He reiterated that he has openly called Cardinal Woelki’s crisis management “a disaster,” but said the bishops’ conference cannot make any decision on th cardinal’s future; only the apostolic nuncio can.
In his formal 17-page statement after the plenary, Bishop Bätzing addressed the fact that public opinion at the moment focuses on the Archdiocese of Cologne.
“And certainly there are many things that need to be clarified in the Archdiocese of Cologne. But to focus solely on the Archbishop of Cologne would be too shortsighted. On the contrary: all bishops of all 27 dioceses bear a responsibility for the situation, and we all have to face the criticism,” Bishop Bätzing said.
The bishop said much progress has been made since the first cases of sexual abuse in the German Catholic Church became public in 2010, “but … there is still a lot to do. The issue is in no way closed, nor will it ever be with a view to prevention. However, I reject the accusation that the bishops have been silent or have done nothing for years.”
The bishops also discussed the Synodal Path, which is debating the issues of power, sexual morality, priestly life and the role of women in the Church. It also heard a report from an ecumenical working group on shared Communion and discussed the dire situation of refugees on the European Union borders.
Bishop Bätzing asked governments to get involved in a situation that he described as a blot on the European Union.
