Big surprise

adminonNovember 23, 2021January 5, 2022Leave a Comment

Bishop Vitus Huonder of Chur © KNA

Pope Francis has extended the term of Bishop Vitus Huonder of Chur by two years. This was announced by the diocese of Chur. Francis, he said, had considered the letter of resignation sent to him by the bishop on 21. April 2017 transmitted.

"After considering all the circumstances, the Pope has decided to extend the term of office of the bishop for two years, until Easter 2019," it says on the website of the diocese of Chur on Thursday. Thus, only after the expiration of these two years, the replacement of the Swiss bishop's seat will take place.

Polarizing bishop

The conservative Huonder is controversial in Chur. Like his predecessor Bishop Wolfgang Haas (1988/90-1997), he has polarized the diocese, which includes not only the rural cantons but also the financial metropolis of Zurich. With verbal attacks on sexuality, church interception or the protection of life, the bishop of Chur has repeatedly acted as a representative of the conservative wing of the church throughout the country.

Critics moved to the headquarters of the bishops' conference president in 2014 to demonstrate for Huonder's ouster. The Swiss gay umbrella organization unsuccessfully filed criminal charges against the bishop in 2015 for allegedly publicly inciting violence against homosexuals.

Reactions to pope's decision

The Parish Initiative, an association of critical lay people, said it was "shocked" to note the papal decision. The alliance "Enough is enough!" which has petitioned for an administrator to succeed Huonder, expressed "great disappointment that the pope is going down this path and not choosing the option of an administrator". He said this was a clear signal that there would be a proper election of bishops. "Pope Francis is obviously not aware of what is going on in the diocese of Chur," said Simone Curau-Aepli, president of the Swiss Catholic Women's Federation, on behalf of the Alliance.

In an interview with the "Luzerner Zeitung" (Thursday), the bishop defended his strict stance. The Catholic Church in Switzerland was infected by "deviations" from Church doctrine and discipline and by abuses in the liturgy. "Infections are usually associated with fever. But the fever also helps the organism to recover." The media portrayed him too negatively, the bishop said in the interview. They did not appreciate all aspects of his statements, but always immediately sought confrontation.

Pope surprises with decision

"The proof of confidence on the part of the Pope has moved me and filled me with great gratitude," Vitus Huonder wrote in a letter to the employees of his diocese, from which the Internet portal kath.ch quoted on Thursday. With his decision, the pope is betting on continuity. He said this would allow him, Huonder, to "continue work that has not yet been completed".

Career of Huonder

Huonder was born on 21. Born April 1942 in Trun in the canton of Graubunden. After his ordination and doctorate in 1973, he worked at the Faculty of Theology of the University of Fribourg and at the Theological University of Chur. Twelve years followed in parish pastoral care. After his habilitation in liturgical science, Bishop Haas appointed him vicar general for Graubunden, Glarus and Liechtenstein in 1990 and made him a cathedral chaplain in the same year.

Haas' successor Bishop Amedee Grab confirmed Huonder as vicar general for Graubunden in 1998. In the run-up to the 2007 episcopal election, Huonder was then considered a successful candidate. Even then, the media described him as similarly conservative as predecessor Haas.

Pope Benedict XVI. has called for a "profound renewal of the Church at all levels" in light of sexual abuse of minors by clerics. The care for the victims must be a main concern of the Catholic Church, he said.

In addition, it is necessary to promote an "effective culture of protective measures and victim support," the head stressed on Monday evening in his greeting at the opening of the three-day international congress of the Pontifical Gregorian University on abuse. The pope called the protection of victims the top priority in dealing with the abuses.

Abuse in the church requires a "vigorous culture of effective protection and support for victims," according to the greeting address to conference participants signed by Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone. In the letter, Benedict expressed the hope that the symposium would contribute to finding a response to the "tragedy of child abuse" that meets Christian standards.

The meeting will be attended by 220 representatives of 110 national bishops' conferences and 34 religious superiors. From Germany, the abuse commissioner of the Bishops' Conference, Bishop Stephan Ackermann of Trier, and Cardinal Reinhard Marx of Munich are present. The event is titled "Toward healing and renewal".

Cooperation with authorities called for
Cardinal Levada called on bishops' conferences worldwide to be more proactive in creating guidelines for dealing with sexual abuse. He said many conferences have already ied their own norms, such as the U.S., Germany, France, South Africa and Australia. However, they often arose in response to the media's exposure of scandalous cases, Levada said.

The church must cooperate with civil authorities in the investigation, stressed the cardinal, whose congregation is also responsible for prosecuting cases under canon law. However, the secrecy of confessions must remain inviolable. The pastoral task of the Church is to listen to the victims and to accompany them. Benedict XVI gave a personal example. through his meetings with victims of abuse during various trips abroad.

Adequate formation of future priest
To protect minors, the church must train its employees and make them more aware of the ie, said Levada. At the same time, it must educate parents and children about sexual abuse in society. The cardinal called for adequate training of future priests. Particular attention should be paid to the transfer of candidates for the priesthood to other dioceses.

Since 2001, he said, 4.000 cases of sexual abuse of minors have been reported, Levada said. He said this makes it clear that a response based only on canon law is inadequate. In addition to norms for delinquent clergy, it is also a matter of providing the best possible assistance to victims, promoting child protection programs and training future priests, he said.

Penitential service for victims of abuse
In the evening, in a penitential service marked by quiet seriousness, bishops from around the world prayed for victims of sexual abuse by Catholic clerics. The ceremony at the Jesuit Church of Sant "Ignazio was an emotional highlight of the four-day congress. The Canadian Cardinal Marc Ouellet, Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops, presided over the service.

The penitential service in Rome's Old City Church began with 15 minutes of silence and darkness. In subsequent intercessions, seven representatives of groups involved in abuse – including a teacher, a bishop, a religious, a parent – asked for forgiveness for their actions, saying, "Forgive us Lord, and have mercy on us". Victims concluded by asking for divine help to forgive.

The chairman of the German Bishops' Conference, Cardinal Reinhard Marx, currently sees the EU in a "difficult moment". Member states would have a tendency to put their own interests first, rather than the common good.

Marx made his remarks Tuesday evening in Brussels during a discussion with Cardinal Juan Jose Omella of Barcelona and Cardinal Jozef de Kesel, archbishop of Mechelen-Brussels. He says it is important to overcome this phase of national interests. "The EU project is not over yet," says Marx. The concept of multilateralism is not yet a thing of the past, he said.

The Munich cardinal also advocated placing the family at the center of the discussion on a new sexual morality. "I also wish for a clear answer, but sometimes it is simply not possible," Marx emphasized. He thinks "that the meaning of this morality must be reformulated."He is "half-optimistic" that this can succeed. It was important to include different situations, he said. Developments that are taking place must be taken into account.

Reception and integration opportunities

Omella pleaded for refugees to be adequately accommodated and offered opportunities for integration. "We must not forget our memory, we are a country of immigrants," says the Spanish cardinal. De Kesel spoke positively about the presence of Muslims in Europe. In the context of a secular society, he said, believers are also first and foremost. Still, he said, it's important for Muslims to learn how to integrate into a pluralistic society.

Commenting on a discussion about abortion, which is to become possible for longer in Belgium, de Kesel said it was not just a religious ie. The ie affects everyone and needs to be discussed.

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