The Church in Germany's Synodal Path in session last September. More than 70 bishops from around the world have released a “fraternal open letter” to Germany’s bishops warning that sweeping changes to Church teaching advocated by the ongoing process known as the “Synodal Path” may lead to schism.
The letter expresses “our growing concern about the nature of the entire German ‘Synodal Path,’” which the signatories say has led to confusion about Church teaching and appears focused more on man’s will than God’s.
“Failing to listen to the Holy Spirit and the Gospel, the Synodal Path’s actions undermine the credibility of Church authority, including that of Pope Francis; Christian anthropology and sexual morality; and the reliability of Scripture,” the letter states.
The letter’s initial signatories included 48 bishops from the United States. Another 19 are from Africa, 14 of whom are from Tanzania. Those lending their names to the document include such well-known prelates as Cardinal Raymond Burke, Cardinal George Pell, Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco, and Archbishop Samuel Aquila of Denver.
Columnist David Quinn’s article on the German synod from this week’s edition of The Irish Catholic is available to read here.