The Vatican statement, released with the endorsement of Pope Francis, sparked protests and open defiance across the German-speaking Catholic world.
Organizers staged a day of protest in response to the statement by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith that the Church does not have the power to bless same-sex unions.
German priests and pastoral workers have also openly defied the Vatican and held blessing ceremonies for same-sex couples.
In July, the general secretary of the Central Committee of German Catholics (ZdK), said that the synodal way – sometimes referred to as the synodal way – was “a conscious statement against the current Catholic catechism, which has been criticizing and denigrating homosexuality since in the middle of the 1970s and still blames homosexual activity as a sin.
His comments were published July 17 in German and English by Outreach, a website edited by Jesuit Father James Martin who describes himself as an “LGBT Catholic resource.”
Several German bishops have recently spoken out in favor of changes to Church teaching on sexuality and gender identity.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church says: “The number of men and women who have deep homosexual tendencies is not negligible. This inclination, objectively disordered, constitutes for the majority of them a test. They must be accepted with respect, compassion and sensitivity. Any sign of unfair discrimination against them must be avoided” (no. 2358).
He continues: “These people are called to accomplish the will of God in their lives and, if they are Christians, to unite to the sacrifice of the Cross of the Lord the difficulties they may encounter because of their condition” (no. 2358 ).
He adds: “Homosexual people are called to chastity. By the virtues of self-control which teach them interior freedom, sometimes by the support of disinterested friendship, by prayer and sacramental grace, they can and must gradually and resolutely approach Christian perfection” (No. 2359).
