Zulehner on reform processes: Rome wants to be first

The Viennese theologian Paul Zulehner is of the opinion that Rome lacks the many theological experts that are available in Germany. The only problem with the Synodal Path is that it started too early. "Rome doesn't like to take the second step. They say: We are taking the first step," explained the theologian in an interview with the Croatian radio station HRT on Thursday evening. Rome believes that it must take the first step in order to show what synodality is, what structures and new methods of participation exist and how church law can be changed accordingly. Only then could the reforms be implemented in their own countries. According to Zulehner, however, this would be difficult as the relevant experts were lacking in Rome.

The theologian would therefore like to see more theology at the next Synod on Synodality. "We need to do more theology and recognise what we hear: Is the Holy Spirit speaking to us? And then we need to find a good way to make the final decisions," Zulehner continued. In this context, he also picked up on thoughts from Synod on Synodality advisor and Linz theologian Klara Csiszar, who emphasised that church synodality "can also be a good model for democracies". Otherwise, the church would ask itself what it could learn from democracy in terms of participation. Now one could also ask the other way round what democracies could learn from the renewed synodal church. "This is a very good task for the future, the task of the church in today's world," he said.

The theologian is currently attending a conference on the Church in the societies of Central and Eastern Europe in the Croatian capital Zagreb with members of the Pastoral Forum and the PosT network. Both organisations were founded on the initiative of the retired pastoral theologian in Vienna. The Pastoral Forum, founded 35 years ago, supports and researches the churches in Eastern and Central Europe and helps young theologians to develop pastoral theology in these countries through scholarships. The PosT network is a network of pastoral theologians from Central and Eastern Europe and was founded 20 years ago. (mtr)