Ratzinger Regrets Church Centralism at Card. König’s Funeral
Sept 12, 2004
There have been times when the Vatican has intervened too often in the affairs of a local church
(The Tablet 3 April 2004) There have been times when the Vatican has intervened too often in the affairs of a local church, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, Prefect of the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, has admitted. He made the surprise remarks to journalists following the Requiem Mass in Vienna of its former Archbishop, Cardinal Franz König, who died on 13 March.
“Perhaps we could sometimes be more generous in certain matters,” Cardinal Ratzinger told journalists after the Requiem, which the doctrinal congregation prefect conducted on the Pope’s behalf. The German word he used – grosszügig – is variously translated as “generous”, “magnanimous” or “tolerant”.
The prefect also said he was prepared to think about where less centralism and more decentralisation could be applied in the Church. There was “no absolute ban” on the part of the Holy See as far as making readjustments was concerned, he said, adding that it was important both to maintain unity and to allow local Churches to develop their charisms. Local bishops should not be afraid to make unpopular decisions and should not shun conflict, he said. But the right balance between the central authorities and local Churches had not always been found, he admitted.
Ratzinger Regrets Church Centralism at Card. König’s Funeral