Nuncio Complains that German Church Does Not Listen to the Pope

Bonn (kath.,net/KNA) The ambassador of the Pope in Germany is concerned about the future of the Catholic Church in the Bundesrepublik. "The Pope suffers from an persistently closed attitude toward him in Germany," said the Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Jean-Claude Perisset, in an interview published in the "Zeit" on Wednesday. It is a "great loss", that the Church in Germany hears the Pope so little.

The Nuncio expressed himself critically about the dialog process in the Catholic Church. "Conflict in the Church is the wrong way. But dialog is not a conflict, but the opposite". Whoever only values his own position, doesn't engage in dialog. It would be a courageous step of the Bishops, to seek a discussion with the people of the Church. "Only those who want to turn the Church on its head, are those who do not want dialog."

With a view to the debate surrounding the Kirchensteuer [Church tax], the Nuncio said, the Church in the Bundesrepublik is "sometimes is too concerned with managing resources and forgets the announcing of the good news.". As to the question for the reason for empty churches and few priestly vocations Perisset recalled that this is not a malfunction of the institution of the Church; the reasons lay in the mentality of people and in erroneous beliefs. "We need a new culture of community, of believing together. For that reason we need also great celebrations like World Youth Day or Papal Masses in the Olympiastadion. They show: you are not alone."

http://www.eponymousflower.blogspot.com/2012/08/nuncio-complains-that-german-church.html