The head of the German Catholic Central Committee (ZDK) expressed his hope that the next pope would continue to follow the openness pursued by Pope Francis, warning that the election of conservative figures could pose a challenge to the German church.
ZDK president Irme Stetter-Karp told DPA that the church needs to be able to meet the requirements of the 21st century. She said the election of the conservative pope could pose a major challenge to the German Catholic Church.
She acknowledged the power within the Catholic Church wanted to maintain the authority of the instrument and regarded too much freedom as a threat to the unity of the church. “There is this risk, it’s not small.”
ZDK represents Catholics, which is a non-restriction in the local diocese. ZDK, together with the German Bishops' Conference, launched a reform process in 2019, namely the Bishops' Conference Road.
This focuses on reforms within the church about preaching and same-sex couples, which have stimulated conservative action and prompted some to talk about division and heresy.
The survey repeatedly shows that most German Catholics support liberal reforms, including more women’s rights and a shift in the church’s position on sexual morality.
