Thread by @mfjlewis

If this is the case, then why the talk of schism?

Bp Bätzing:

“It is absolutely clear that there are matters that we can only discuss at the level of the Universal Church. We will contribute from Germany with our reflections.” 1/

catholicnewsagency.com/news/247561/ge…

Are the pope's critics afraid of discussion?

“The binding implementation will, depending on the topic, be up to the Holy See and/or the local bishop. I repeat again: the Church in Germany is an integral part of the universal Church." 2/

"In Germany and in other parts of the Universal Church there has long been a discussion about how to further develop the Magisterium with sound arguments - on the basis of the fundamental truths of faith and morals." 3/

In swoops a papal critic theologian, presuming to speaking for the pope:

'That he stands in such open defiance of Pope Francis, and the Faith Itself, should be evidence enough that Bätzing’s ‘Synodal Way’ is really not a ‘way forward’ but a way out of communion with Rome" 4/

How so, if Bätzing says they will leave the final decision to the pope? Someone is projecting. 5/

"What Bp Bätzing is hoping to ‘develop’ amounts to nothing less than a different ecclesiology. It is not a Catholic ecclesiology ... but one which resembles Liberal Protestantism."

Protestants don't leave things up to the pope. Once again, I don't see what he's seeing. 6/

"He holds an erroneous view of what ‘doctrinal development’ means, arguing that the Church must be brought ‘up to date’ with progressive social norms"

Maybe it's an erroneous view of doctrinal development, but he doesn't use the words "up to date"(as you quote him as saying). 7/

He does use "up to" in this context, however. “The binding implementation will, depending on the topic, be UP TO the Holy See and/or the local bishop."

Let the pope decide if they are out of bounds. It's not up to you. 8/8