"Conservative" Bishop Oster Announces the National Synodal Body in Germany
On Bistum-Passau.de on 3 February, Monsignor Oster said that the new body still requires approval from the German Bishops’ Conference and the Vatican, but he believes that "this new body at the national level will come into being". He added that with it, "synodality" should be placed on a lasting footing.
Bishop Oster described the six-year journey of the German Synod as enriching and meaningful. At the last Synodal Assembly in Stuttgart last weekend, he said, they had tried to "establish a connection with the Roman Synod on Synodality". Following the Roman model, he praised that they had used the method of "conversation in the Holy Spirit".
This new permanent national synodal body should regularly monitor the bishops' implementation of the Synodal Way, a move that even Cardinal Marx opposed. "I caution against pursuing this path. It is evident that we are discussing decisions in principle. However, I am firmly opposed to this proposal."
The resolution including this new body was narrowly approved by the bishops with 21 votes in favour, 10 against and two abstentions, just reaching the required two-thirds majority with only 33 of the 59 eligible bishops present.
Picture: Vatican Media, #newsSjvcwofmch