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Cardinal Kasper dismisses African prelates' objections to Synod proposals

October 15, 2014

Cardinal Walter Kasper said that African prelates should not have much influence on the Synod of Bishops, in an interview with the Zenit news agency.

The German cardinal said that bishops from Muslim countries are under constraints when speaking about homosexuality. “It’s a taboo,” he said. Consequently, he said, “they should not tell us too much what we have to do.”

Cardinal Kasper’s remark seemed certain to intensify complaints that European bishops are attempting to impose their own agenda on the Synod, ignoring the needs of the Church elsewhere in the world.

Cardinal Kasper said that he believed his proposal for allowing divorced and remarried Catholics to receive Communion was gaining support in the Synod assembly. “I saw a growing majority in favor of an opening,” he told Zenit. He said that Pope Francis fully supports his proposal—although he acknowledged that the Pontiff has not spoken on the topic—but said that the Pope will not impose his own will on the matter. “He cannot do it against the majority of the episcopacy,” he said.

 


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  • Posted by: skall391825 - Oct. 16, 2014 2:35 AM ET USA

    The true value of this Synod will be to show the faithful just where the Holy Father stands.

  • Posted by: feedback - Oct. 15, 2014 11:43 PM ET USA

    "Bishops from Muslim countries are under constraints when speaking about homosexuality. “It’s a taboo,” he said." Promotion of homosexuality in Muslim countries is as much a taboo as the slightest opposition to it is in Germany and in the Western world. Regardless of those pressures, Bishops are to stand always for the Truth.

  • Posted by: - Oct. 15, 2014 11:41 PM ET USA

    The African bishops have every right to voice their ideas & opinions. Does Cardinal Kasper forget that Africa has been producing more priests than many Western countries. I live in AZ USA and we are fortunate to have some very good priests serving in our state.

  • Posted by: - Oct. 15, 2014 10:19 PM ET USA

    What an exemplar of humility and fraternal solidarity, His Eminence Cardinal Kasper! The ever-enlightened Westerners ALWAYS know what's best for the Church and our little brothers in Africa. Why our churches are FULL of faithful at every Mass, giving glory to the One who died for our sins! We would NEVER acquiesce to the PC police, and shamelessly modify Church doctrine in order to accommodate the pathologies of our day. Hey, Africans, shut up about gays! The Church Triumphant, indeed!

  • Posted by: bernie4871 - Oct. 15, 2014 8:36 PM ET USA

    Almost impossible to believe he would say such things. What arrogance !!!

  • Posted by: fenton1015153 - Oct. 15, 2014 8:02 PM ET USA

    Cardinal Kasper said that Pope Francis fully supports his proposal—. If this is true then the Church is in deep trouble. May God stop this insanity.

  • Posted by: Minnesota Mary - Oct. 15, 2014 7:48 PM ET USA

    This Pope and Cardinal Kasper scare me!

  • Posted by: jg23753479 - Oct. 15, 2014 7:19 PM ET USA

    Kasper's chutzpah is mouth-dropping. He comes from a country where Catholicism is moribund and HE lectures African bishops from dioceses where Catholicism thrives?!?! He and his fellow German prelates should be ashamed of the miserable spiritual condition of their own country, but instead they think themselves empowered to instruct others? The question again arises: Why hasn't Francis told this poseur to shut his mouth and keep his (ridiculous) opinions to himself? The pope fully supports him?!

  • Posted by: Vincit omnia amor - Oct. 15, 2014 6:23 PM ET USA

    that's not very nice of Cardinal Kasper! I don't think he and the German bishops should "tell us to much what to do." btw, seems like the Cardinal from South Africa is still Catholic - and that's not a Muslim country. oy.

  • Posted by: Defender - Oct. 15, 2014 5:20 PM ET USA

    Wow, the cardinal seems to have a very un-Catholic view of his fellow bishops, doesn't he? This alone should prompt the pope to fire him!