It's worth noting that projects which enter development hell often never see the light of day, or are released in a significantly different form than originally proposed. While this is often a bad thing for movies or video games, it's possibly the best thing for the synodal way--the Vatican gets to calmly put the kibosh on it without sla…
It's worth noting that projects which enter development hell often never see the light of day, or are released in a significantly different form than originally proposed. While this is often a bad thing for movies or video games, it's possibly the best thing for the synodal way--the Vatican gets to calmly put the kibosh on it without slapping anyone down too publicly or too hard, the German bishops can return to the ZdK and say "Oh well, we tried", and things can simmer down without making a big fight over it.
I think this could be the Vatican providing that opportunity. But seeing as the ZdK attacked the German bishops over the failure to appoint the ZdK-chosen candidate to some largely unimportant post, I don't think it will work out quite like that. Even if the kibosh is successful, there will be a public fight of some variety.
"German bishops can return to the ZdK and say "Oh well, we tried"" - I don't think that will fly. First, the ZdK is intent at a seat at the table. They will not simply accept a Roman imposed solution. They have been fighting that from the first. They will instead start a major reduction in funding forcing the bishop's conference to heel. Second, the bishops see the synodal way as the only way to reclaim a moral authority from a population that sees the church in the worst possible way. Frankly, from their perspective, unless these changes are implemented, the church will be purged of its money and people. I see the German position as this MUST be accomplished, and Rome MUST accept it.
I personally pray that instead the church will realize that we have had a century+ of poor catechism and education among the people, resulting in a weak church, left with political solutions to these worldly problems. Instead, German needs a new missionary effort to re-evangelize the faithful. That will mean going through a heart breaking reduction in the number of nominal faithful, so that a new church can emerge.
It's worth noting that projects which enter development hell often never see the light of day, or are released in a significantly different form than originally proposed. While this is often a bad thing for movies or video games, it's possibly the best thing for the synodal way--the Vatican gets to calmly put the kibosh on it without slapping anyone down too publicly or too hard, the German bishops can return to the ZdK and say "Oh well, we tried", and things can simmer down without making a big fight over it.
I think this could be the Vatican providing that opportunity. But seeing as the ZdK attacked the German bishops over the failure to appoint the ZdK-chosen candidate to some largely unimportant post, I don't think it will work out quite like that. Even if the kibosh is successful, there will be a public fight of some variety.
Perhaps a fight which the bishops will win with the result that Catholics who have left the Church due to the synod will return.
I hope so.
"German bishops can return to the ZdK and say "Oh well, we tried"" - I don't think that will fly. First, the ZdK is intent at a seat at the table. They will not simply accept a Roman imposed solution. They have been fighting that from the first. They will instead start a major reduction in funding forcing the bishop's conference to heel. Second, the bishops see the synodal way as the only way to reclaim a moral authority from a population that sees the church in the worst possible way. Frankly, from their perspective, unless these changes are implemented, the church will be purged of its money and people. I see the German position as this MUST be accomplished, and Rome MUST accept it.
I personally pray that instead the church will realize that we have had a century+ of poor catechism and education among the people, resulting in a weak church, left with political solutions to these worldly problems. Instead, German needs a new missionary effort to re-evangelize the faithful. That will mean going through a heart breaking reduction in the number of nominal faithful, so that a new church can emerge.