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The German Catholic church is discussing a series of reforms,
including on homosexuality, women priests and priestly celibacy, as
part of its so-called Synodal Path.
Speaking to La Repubblica newspaper, Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Mueller
said some of the bishops taking part in the process have approved
"heretical texts" and should be tried under canon law.
"The pope has the responsibility of asking for explanations, of
correcting or - in extreme cases - of firing bishops over doctrinal
issues," Mueller said.
The cardinal, himself a German bishop, said allowing gay couples to
have their union blessed by a priest goes "directly against Catholic
faith".
"Blessing homosexual couples is a blasphemy," he said.
In November, after talks with Vatican officials and the pope, the
head of the German Bishops Conference said the debate on reforms
could not be suppressed.
On blessings for same-sex unions, Bishop Georg Baetzing also said:
"I will not deny God's blessing from those in committed
relationships who are seeking it".
In July, the Vatican tried to slam the brakes on the German Synodal
Path movement, saying it risked causing a schism in the universal
Church.
The Catholic Church teaches that priests should be celibate, that
women cannot be priests because Jesus chose only men as his apostles
and that while same-sex attraction is not sinful, homosexual acts
are.
(Reporting by Alvise Armellini, editing by Robert Birsel)
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