The Austrian portal Kath.net, widely read in Germany, takes the pretext of an “exit from the Church” to consider the near future of Catholicism across the Rhine in the light of the consequences of the recent Synodal Path. An interesting and compelling analysis.
An individual “leaving the Church” – i.e., refusing to pay the church tax and its consequences - does not usually deserve a headline. However, recently a case caused a bit of a stir, that of Lukas Färber, from Action 72 Hours of the German Association of Catholic Youth in Münster.
Lukas Färber also participated in the Out in the Church campaign [which promoted the coming out of homosexual Church members and employees]. He was also part of the group of participants under 30 selected by the German Association of Catholic Youth for the Synodal Path.
In a Twitter thread, Mr. Färber explains the reasons for his departure. He also explains that he wishes to remain a member of two Catholic youth associations, which is impossible under normal circumstances. In addition, he will continue to be a speaker for Action 72 Hours.
On its website, the German Bishops' Conference (DBK), in the General Decree of the German Bishops' Conference on leaving the Church (September 20, 2012), says that “civilly leaving the Church... represents a serious offense to the ecclesial community and limits the active participation in ecclesial life of any person who in this way distances himself from the Church.”
The decree specifies: “The declaration of leaving the Church entails the following legal consequences: 1. the person who has left the Church…cannot exercise any ecclesiastical office or any function in the Church.”
It remains to be seen as to whether Färber's declaration to maintain his position will come true. Even under the Reformed Church Employment Ordinance [from the Synod Path], leaving the Church is still considered grounds for dismissal.
Finally, Färber writes that he no longer shares the faith of the Church: “My commitment has shown me that my conception of the Christian, of the faith, and of the Church has little to do with what the official Church teaches.” His maintaining such conditions will raise questions about the church tax.
Many Catholics have problems with this tax. Many projects that are difficult to associate with the faith of the Church, such as the Synodal Path, are financed thanks to it. Canon law obliges believers to support the Church adequately. But what happens when these support funds are largely allocated to projects hostile to the Church and the faith?
Besides the ecclesiastical tax, this case shows another of the expected results of the Synodal Path. It is easy to predict that the disappointments that led Färber to leave the Church will soon lead to many more resignations.
The disappointments of the reformers are understandable: for too long irresponsible bishops and priests have fostered or tolerated them. In the Synodal Path, bishops have raised their hands in favor of heresies and are now reaping the fruits of disappointments, for they have lied and deceived by their approval.
So, who can take seriously a bishop who votes in favor of the presence of women in all ministries? It is nothing less than an act of lying that has now rightly returned in the form of disillusioned and angry resignations.
For reasons of justice, not of faith, for the moment, we can only take note of each of these disillusioned resignations and put them on the account of the bishops who voted “yes” to this whole mess. Don't forget to pray to heaven for those who are gone. In the end, they are no less deceived than the loyal faithful who continue to pay for the disaster.
