The head of the German Bishops’ Conference, Georg Bätzing, has expressed disappointment regarding the decision by Bundestag President Julia Klöckner (CDU) to forgo flying the rainbow flag at the Reichstag in Berlin during this year’s Christopher Street Day. Bätzing told “Stern” magazine that he found the rejection regrettable, stating it would have been a positive sign, a sentiment he emphasized despite his position as a Catholic bishop.
Bätzing, who also serves as Bishop of Limburg, referenced the Catholic Church’s traditionally cautious stance on homosexuality. The Church’s catechism describes lived homosexuality as “intrinsically disordered” and “not to be approved in any case”. He advocated for a reevaluation of this position, noting the Church’s stated commitment to change, referencing amendments made to the catechism regarding capital punishment.
Acknowledging a “significant crisis” within the Church, Bätzing highlighted dwindling numbers of members and the declining recruitment of priests. He warned that a shortage of clergy could lead to a weakening of the Church’s sacramental life. Bätzing reiterated his call for reforms, emphasizing a desire for greater involvement of members in decision-making processes, arguing this would enrich rather than diminish the Catholic identity.
However, Bätzing offered little hope for same-sex couples seeking a church wedding. While stating a desire for a welcoming Church, stating “a Church of open arms, one that says, ‘You have a place with us, even if you are not convinced of everything'” he maintained that Christian marriage, “in the Christian sense, is the union of a man and a woman open to having children, which is biblically evident.
On the issue of abortion, Bätzing declared he intended to adhere to existing Church positions, describing it as a “resilient part of the Catholic Church that must remain”. He affirmed the Church’s belief in the inviolable dignity of human life, “from the very first moment of existence”.
