Theologian Lütz: Germans overlook Pope Francis' reforms

By focussing so much on detailed issues, Germans are no longer even aware of groundbreaking reforms within the Catholic Church, says theologian and author Manfred Lütz. In an interview with the"Rheinische Post" newspaper on Thursday, Lütz said: "The German fixation on the ordained ministry for women has meant that the almost revolutionary changes made by Pope Francis have not even been recognised by the public in this country."

The Pope has "de facto" abolished the College of Cardinals, said Lütz. The important role that the cardinals had previously played is over: "For 1,000 years, the cardinals were the rulers in the church after the Pope, they headed the central Roman authorities and the largest dioceses worldwide. That is over." If they were lucky, they would still be allowed to take part in a conclave and wear red robes.

Women more important for the faith than men

Lütz went on to explain that the reform of the Curia makes it possible for women to become heads of all leading Roman authorities. This has already been implemented in the Dicastery for Religious and the Vatican Governorate. The theologian added: "So next month, a woman could also succeed Cardinal Ratzinger as head of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith or decide on all episcopal appointments in the world as head of the Dicastery for Bishops."

Looking at the history of faith, Lütz emphasised: "In any case, women are generally more important for the faith than men." This is because it is usually mothers who tell their children about the faith and it is usually women who sit at the bedside of their dying partner. It is true that the emancipation of women "often took place against the resistance of the churches". "Because even the church was sometimes late to understand Christianity," says the theologian. However, this does not change the basic emancipatory impulse of Christianity.

In the fight for equality in the Catholic Church, Lütz proposes disempowering ordained ministries and understanding them more as a service. In his view, "this could perhaps finally lead to good solutions that conservatives and progressives in the church could find acceptable". (KNA)