Democratic implications of the synodal path in Germany

Abstract

In Germany, the issue of power within the Catholic Church became central to the Synodal Path, initiated in 2019 by the German Bishops’ Conference and the Central Committee of German Catholics (ZdK) in response to the 2018 MHG study on clerical sexual abuse. One of its four forums addressed “Power and Separation of Powers,” calling for oversight of bishops by democratically elected bodies. These proposals sparked intense debate, especially as the Synodal Path operated outside the framework of canon law, enabling greater lay participation but lacking legal effect. Theological reflection questioned the application of democratic principles to the Church, emphasizing the divine source of ecclesial authority while acknowledging the need for recognition by the faithful – an idea captured in the term synodality. A Synodal Committee was later formed to prepare a permanent Synodal Council, though the Vatican contested its legitimacy. This unresolved tension between local reform efforts and universal Church authority remains ongoing.