GERMANY:The newly appointed head of the Catholic Church in Germany has described the vow of celibacy as "theologically unnecessary" for priests or the church.
In a wide-ranging interview with Der Spiegel magazine, Archbishop Robert Zollitsch (69) made clear he intends to continue the liberal tradition that brought his predecessor, Cardinal Karl Lehmann, into conflict with his conservative German colleagues and the Vatican.
"The connection between being a priest and remaining unmarried is theologically unnecessary," said Archbishop Zollitsch. "You will notice I don't approve of thought control. But I have experience that bishops from India or Africa would wonder if we in Germany wanted to shake up this tradition. It would be a revolution, one with which parts of the church would not go along."
The archbishop said a discussion of priestly celibacy, introduced in the 12th century, would require a Vatican council. That was unlikely in the near future, he said, as long as projects from the last council were unrealised. In the interview, Archbishop Zollitsch distanced himself from leading conservative clergymen in Germany who regularly cause consternation in public discussions with their choice of words.
Last year a prominent bishop attacked the idea of childcare and a new parents' allowance because, he said, it turned women into "child-bearing machines".
Archbishop Zollitsch said such terms ruined the chance of necessary discussion.
"We Catholics created the first creches, set up by nuns," he said. "We need creches because many parents simply need them."
He expressed disappointment that the church hadn't been able to capitalise more on the wave of goodwill following the election of Pope Benedict, to reach out more to people's everyday lives.
"We have to take into account the societal situation whether it suits us or not," he said. "We have noticed a hint of longing for religiousness appearing."
He also referred to a Vatican communique that Protestant churches are not true churches but ecclesial communities.
"This Vatican communique caused resentment and injured feelings," he said. "Yes, it is a church but a different one. According to Catholic understanding, not a church in the full sense of the word, but it is a church. I cannot deny it that."
Archbishop Zollitsch said he was "not seeking conflict with Rome", nevertheless lively times could lie ahead between the head of the Catholic Church in Germany and the German pope.