The Hesitant Brave

Archbishop Robert Zollitsch (©BZ)

On today's 75th birthday of Archbishop Robert Zollitsch, Freiburg's Sunday paper Der Sonntag published a whole page already two weeks ago. The article was titled: Der zaghafte Mutige (The hesitant Brave), meaning that Archbishop Robert epitomizes the dilemma of the Catholic Church. He stands for minor reforms that eventually run into the sand.

During my stay in Switzerland, I participated in preparing the Swiss Synode 72 in the 1970s. As an introduction, the Swiss bishops wrote: We need your support and collaboration to prepare. All suggestions and requests will be carefully examined and evaluated. After long debates, the discussion groups came up with well-balanced reform proposals. The Catholic episcopate politely took note and expressed thanks, but fundamental changes in the Church's roots and branches were not even started except for mere outer appearances.

In Freiburg in April this year, a Diocesan Assembly demanded, above all, courage. The Catholic Church should no longer consider modern society's political and social liberties a danger but an opportunity for reform. Following three days of intense debate, it was the same old story: Archbishop Robert took note but indicated that his hands were tied.

Shaken by child abuse, financial scandals, and an internal Mafia (why did Pope Benedict step down?), the Catholic Church is muddling through. In the meantime, the number of people leaving the Church increases, and churches without parish priests stay empty. So far, imports from Poland have somewhat compensated for the lack of priests, but as I reported earlier, the last Polish Franciscans will leave Freiburg soon.

The other evening at a recent Stammtisch of the Freiburg-Madison Gesellschaft, I learned that Americans continue to trust in God. Religious life is thriving. People assemble in manageable-sized congregations and live in the Sunday community with their ministers like the early Christians. Personal cohesion and solidarity are most important in a parish, whereas the Catholic Church in Germany tries to compensate for the lack of priests by aggregating parishes. 

These larger entities, called pastoral units, are counterproductive to forming a community. Robert Zollitsch said that the size of "pastoral" units in his archdiocese was based on the assumption of twenty new priests per year. Now he admits that the number is considerably lower.

Although the Protestant Church in Germany has problems, too, there is still the recollection of the traditional Lutheran parsonage where the pastor preached the Gospel and his wife exercised her charitable role. 

Why does the Catholic Church not abolish celibacy? Soon when the last old men try to keep the Catholic ship afloat, they will regret not allowing priests to marry. It is comforting to read that Archbishop Robert, who had previously said that celibacy is not "necessary" for the priesthood, at least allows his sheep to discuss the issue. In the same interview, Robert considered God quite capable of working miracles.

Georg Gänswein congratulating Robert Zollitsch.
George said he liked his work in Rome very much
when asked about his future plans. (©BZ)

Archbishop Robert turns 75 today, and I wish him all the best for his future. At that age, he must propose his retirement to Pope Francis, who may take it or leave it. Cardinal Joachim Meisner of Cologne will retire too. Many Catholics hoped the Vatican's George Clooney Georg Gänswein would return to Germany as a bishop in this situation. Although he is considered conservative as his former master Pope Benedict, is he the flicker of hope?

On August 10, the Badische Zeitung reported about Robert Zollitsch's birthday festivities. The President of the Central Committee of German Catholics said nothing other than what I wrote: Robert dares to walk his way; he is open, always constructive, creating a new culture of discussion within the Church. In his laudatio, Cardinal Walter Kasper went a step further: We cannot build a new Church, but we should become a new kind of Church drawing our force from our roots. As Pope Francis said: The Church must go to its limits. 

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