Theologian Zulehner calls for a "turning point" in the Church

Paul Zulehner is calling for more honesty in the church: it is better to admit that the main motive for structural reforms is a lack of money than to conceal dwindling resources and to put forward religious reasons. As the Kathpress press agency reported on Tuesday, the Viennese theologian and sociologist of religion explained: "Then it will be easier to be honest about who decides and what priorities play a role in the decisions."

Zulehner sees the Catholic Church in the midst of a "turning point" from a church of priests to a church of baptismal vocations. He refers to an online survey conducted in the first quarter of 2024 and initiated by the Austrian Pastors' Initiative, which is the starting point for his new, forthcoming book "Zeitenwende. Tasks and opportunities for church structural reforms", which will be published shortly.

Being a Christian without attending mass?

According to Kathpress, Zulehner presented the first results of the study in lectures in Vienna and Salzburg. According to Zulehner, in the "priestly church" the parish community is centred on the priest, while in the "baptismal vocation church" it is centred on the people of God. Those who represent the former prove to be far more resistant to structural reforms.

Zulehner pointed to a changed image of the church: The study shows a great deal of agreement with the statement "You can be a good Christian even without Sunday Mass" - a blatant contradiction to the teachings of the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965). The theologian explained that in the baptismal vocation church, celebrations of the word led by women and men were highly accepted, while the celebration of the Eucharist was called into question as the "source and culmination of Christian life" - according to the Council.

Against depression

Zulehner said that the Church must not "manage the downfall", but must "shape the transition". In this way, he opposed an "exhausting, even paralysing church depression". According to Zulehner, many church members are calling for a decisive "political" commitment to peace, justice and the integrity of creation and are against a "tragic self-preoccupation of the church with itself". (KNA)