More than a year ago, the Vatican reaffirmed the Church's teaching that homosexual couples act contrary to God's plans. The Bishop of Aachen disagrees and admits that his view has changed: "Love cannot be a sin."
The Catholic bishop of Aachen, Helmut Ders, described homosexuality as "god-willed". "Homosexuality is not a glitch of God, but willed by God to the same extent as creation itself," said Diesen the "Zeit" supplement "Christ
The Catholic Church traditionally views homosexuality as a sin. Today it is usually emphasized that homosexuals should not be discriminated against under any circumstances and that the disposition in itself is not a misdemeanor. But at the same time, the headquarters of the Catholic world church insists that homosexuality should not be lived out. Last year, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith once again made it clear that it was "not permitted" to bless homosexual partnerships, since such unions "could not be recognized as being objectively linked to God's revealed plans".
Bishop This said he was aware that Rome still viewed homosexuality as a sin. However, that is a questionable term here: "But when it comes to love, to this variety of love, which is an erotic form, when the body becomes an expression of this love and the language of this love, then I think: love cannot be sin." Whether a priest blesses homosexual couples in his diocese is a personal decision of conscience. That's what happens in Aachen too.
Immediately after the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith's controversial decision in March of last year, he had already opposed it: "It can only fail to want to end a discussion," he explained, adding: "That's naïve and has caused a lot of damage. We have to carry to Rome as bishops."
The fourth synodal assembly of German Catholics to reform the church begins in Frankfurt/Main tomorrow, Thursday. Bishop This leads the synodal forum on partnership and sexuality. He is one of the most progressive Catholic bishops in Germany.
