Lackner: Division through the Synodal Way currently unlikely

The President of the Austrian Bishops' Conference, Salzburg's Archbishop Franz Lackner, has rejected accusations that the Synodal Way of the Church in Germany could lead to a schism in the Church. "There are these warning voices on both sides, but a schism in the sense of a schism is not what anyone who cares about the Church as a home and source of faith wants," Lackner told the "Kurier" (Sunday) in an interview. "At the moment I think it is unlikely."

The Synodal Way of the Church in Germany was very different in its origins from the Pope's worldwide synodal process, Lackner said. At the same time, he said, the German reform process had brought to light issues that were also a concern in other parts of the world. These would also be discussed at the World Synod.

The Archbishop warned against seeing the Synod as a parliament, with majorities of winners and minorities of losers. "We must remain capable of docking and in need of supplementation," Lackner stressed. The history of faith is a history of surprises. "If we hold this Synod listening, praying, in faith and from faith, with the assistance of the Holy Spirit, who is assured to us, then in the end there will be no 'losers'." The Holy Spirit is often the third, unexpected option, he said. Therefore, he said, one should not go into the conversation with preconceived ideas."Synodality itself is for me the surest means of avoiding divisions," Lackner said. The Archbishop is participating for the Austrian Bishops' Conference in the World Synod in Rome, which begins this Wednesday. (cbr)