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Luke HansenJanuary 22, 2015
Photo courtesy of Stanford University Office for Religious Life/Hagop's Photography

Cardinal Reinhard Marx, archbishop of Munich and Freising, is head of the German bishops’ conference, a member of the Council of Cardinals that advises Pope Francis on church governance, coordinator of the Vatican’s Council for the Economy and author of Das Kapital: A Plea for Man (2008). Cardinal Marx delivered the annual Roger W. Heyns Lecture on Jan. 15 at Stanford University in California.This interview, which has been edited for clarity and approved by the cardinal, took place on Jan. 18 in Memorial Church at Stanford University.

Has your experience on the Council of Cardinals offered you a different perspective on the church?

I have a new responsibility. When I am interviewed—like today—and I am asked, “What are you doing on the council?” and “What does it mean to be with the pope?” I feel a higher responsibility. I don’t see the church in a new way, though. I have been a bishop for 18 years, a cardinal for five years, and have been part of synods. I do see my new responsibility and the new opportunities, and also the historical moment to step forward in the church and be part of the history of the church.

What are the new opportunities?

This whole pontificate has opened new paths. You can feel it. Here in the United States everybody is speaking about Francis, even people not belonging to the Catholic Church. I have to say: The pope is not the church. The church is more than the pope. But there is a new atmosphere. A rabbi said to me, “Say to the pope that he helps us, because he strengthens all religion, not just the Catholic Church.” So it’s a new movement.

In the Council of Cardinals we have a special task to create a new constitution for the Roman Curia, to reform the Vatican Bank and to discuss many other things with the pope. But we cannot be present every day in Rome. You must see this pontificate, this way, as a wider and new step. It is my impression that we are on a new way. We are not creating a new church—it remains Catholic—but there is fresh air, a new step forward.

What challenge accompanies this new time in the church?

It is best to read “Evangelii Gaudium.” Some people say, “We don’t know what the pope is really wanting.” I say, “Read the text.” It does not give magical answers to complex questions, but rather it conveys the path of the Spirit, the way of evangelization, being close to the people, close to the poor, close to those who have failed, close to the sinners, not a narcissistic church, not a church of fear. There is a new, free impulse to go out. Some worry about what will happen. Francis uses a strong image: “I prefer a church which is bruised, hurting and dirty because it has been out on the streets,” rather than a church that is very clean and has the truth and everything necessary. The latter church does not help the people. The Gospel is not new, but Francis is expressing it in a new way and is inspiring a lot of people, all over the world, who are saying, “Yes, that is the church.” It is a great gift for us. It’s very important. We will see what he will do. He has been pope for only two years, which is not much time.

What can you tell us about Pope Francis, the person, from working closely with him?

He is very authentic. He is relaxed, calm. At his age he does not need to achieve anything or prove he is somebody. He is very clear and open and without pride. And strong. Not a weak person, but strong. I think it is not so important to analyze the character of the pope, but I understand the interest.

What is very interesting is how, together with him, we will develop the path forward for the church. For example, he writes in “Evangelii Gaudium” about the relationship between the center in Rome and the conferences of bishops, and also about the pastoral work in parishes, the local churches and the character of the synods. These are very important for the future of the church. It is also very important that we have a pope. Now everybody in the world is speaking about the Catholic Church, not entirely positively, but mostly.

So Christ did very well to create the office of St. Peter. We see it. But that doesn’t mean centralism. I told the pope, “A centralized institution is not a strong institution. It is a weak institution.” The Second Vatican Council began to establish a new balance between center and the local church, because they saw, 50 years ago, the beginning of the universal church. It is not achieved, however. We must make it happen for the first time. Now 50 years later, we see what it might be to be a church in a globalized world, a universal, globalized church. We have not yet organized it in a sufficient way. That is the great task for this century. The temptation is to centralize, but it will not function. The other challenge is finding a way to explain the faith in the different parts of the world. What can the synods and the local churches do together with Rome? How can we do this in a good way?

Two issues at the present synod are divorced and remarried Catholics and gay Catholics, especially those in relationships. Do you have opportunities to listen directly to these Catholics in your present ministry?

I have been a priest for 35 years. This problem is not new. I have the impression that we have a lot of work to do in the theological field, not only related to the question of divorce, but also the theology of marriage. I am astonished that some can say, “Everything is clear” on this topic. Things are not clear. It is not about church doctrine being determined by modern times. It is a question of aggiornamento, to say it in a way that the people can understand, and to always adapt our doctrine to the Gospel, to theology, in order to find in a new way the sense of what Jesus said, the meaning of the tradition of the church and of theology and so on. There is a lot to do.

I speak with many experts—canon lawyers and theologians—who recognize many questions related to the sacramentality and validity of marriages. One question is: What can we do when a person marries, divorces and later finds a new partner? There are different positions. Some bishops at the synod said, “They are living in sin.” But others said, “You cannot say that somebody is in sin every day. That is not possible.” You see, there are questions we must speak about. We opened a discussion on this topic in the German bishops’ conference. Now the text is published. I think it is a very good text and a good contribution for the discussion of the synod.

It is very important that the synod does not have the spirit of “all or nothing.” It is not a good way. The synod cannot have winners and losers. That is not the spirit of the synod. The spirit of the synod is to find a way together, not to say, “How can I find a way to bring my position through?” Rather: “How can I understand the other position, and how can we together find a new position?” That is the spirit of the synod.

Therefore it is very important that we are working on these questions. I hope that the pope will inspire this synod. The synod cannot decide; only a council or pope can decide. These questions must also be understood in a broader context. The task is to help the people to live. It is not, according to “Evangelii Gaudium,” about how we can defend the truth. It is about helping people to find the truth. That is important.

The Eucharist and reconciliation are necessary for people. We say to some people, “You will never be reconciled until your death.” That is impossible to believe when you see the situations. I could give examples. In the spirit of “Evangelii Gaudium,” we have to see how the Eucharist is medicine for the people, to help the people. We must look for ways for people to receive the Eucharist. It is not about finding ways to keep them out! We must find ways to welcome them. We have to use our imagination in asking, “Can we do something?” Perhaps it is not possible in some situations. That is not the question. The focus must be on how to welcome people.

At the synod you referred to “the case of two homosexuals who have been living together for 35 years and taking care of each other, even in the last phases of their lives,” and you asked, “How can I say that this has no value?” What have you learned from these relationships and does it have any bearing on sexual ethics today?

When speaking about sexual ethics, perhaps we must not begin with sleeping together, but with love, fidelity and the search for a life-long relationship. I am astonished that most of our young people, and also Catholic homosexuals who are practicing, want a relationship that lasts forever. The doctrine of the church is not so strange for people. It is true. We must begin with the main points of the doctrine, to see the dream: the dream is to have a person say, a man and woman say, “You and you, forever. You and you, forever.” And we as church say, “Yes, that’s absolutely OK. Your vision is right!” So we find the way. Then perhaps there is failure. They find the person, and it is not a great success. But life-long fidelity is right and good.

The church says that a gay relationship is not on the same level as a relationship between a man and a woman. That is clear. But when they are faithful, when they are engaged for the poor, when they are working, it is not possible to say, “Everything you do, because you are a homosexual, is negative.” That must be said, and I have heard no critic. It is not possible to see a person from only one point of view, without seeing the whole situation of a person. That is very important for sexual ethics.

The same goes for people who are together but marry later, or when they are faithful together but only in a civil marriage. It is not possible say that the relationship was all negative if the couple is faithful together, and they are waiting, or planning their life, and after 10 years they find the way to come to the sacrament. When it is possible we must help the couple to find fulfilment in the sacrament of marriage. We discussed this question at the synod, and many synod fathers share this opinion. I was not alone in this opinion.

Just last month Bishop Johan Bonny of Antwerp, Belgium, said the church should recognize a “diversity of forms” and could bless some gay relationships based on these values of love, fidelity and commitment. Is it important for the church to discuss these possibilities?

I said in the synod that Paul VI had a great vision in “Humanae Vitae.” The relationship between a man and a woman is very important. The sexual relationship in a faithful relationship is founded on the connection of procreation, giving love, sexuality and openness to life. Paul VI believed that this connection would be destroyed. He was right; see all the questions of reproductive medicine and so on. We cannot exclude this great model of sexuality, and say, “We have diversity,” or “Everybody has the right to….” The great meaning of sexuality is the relationship between a man and a woman and the openness to give life. I have also previously mentioned the question of accompanying people, to see what people are doing in their lives and in their personal situation.

How will the Catholic and Protestant churches mark the 500th anniversary of the Reformation in 2017? What are the possibilities for greater cooperation among our churches?

We are on a good path in Germany and at the level of the Holy See, with the Lutheran World Federation, to bring together our memory of this time. We the Catholic Church cannot “celebrate” this anniversary, since it is not good that the church has been divided during these centuries. But we have to heal our memories—an important point and a good step forward in our relationship. In Germany I was very happy that the heads of the Protestant church are very clear they don’t want to celebrate the anniversary without the Catholics. One-hundred years ago, or even 50 years ago, a Protestant bishop would not have said, “I will only celebrate when the Catholics are present.” So we are planning it. “Healing Memories” will be a celebration together.

In Germany the heads of the Protestant church and the Catholic Church will also make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, to go back to our roots. We will make a greater celebration not of Martin Luther but Christ, “Christusfest,” to look forward: what is our testimony now, what can we do now, what is the future of the Christian faith and what can we do together. These are our plans for marking the 500th anniversary.

Pope Francis has called for an increased role of women in the church. What can you imagine as possible? What would help the church better fulfill its mission?

The de-clericalization of power is very important in the Roman Curia and the administrations of dioceses. We must look at canon law, and reflect theologically, to see what roles necessarily require priests; and then all the other roles, in the widest sense possible, must be open for lay people, men and women, but especially women. In the administration of the Vatican it is not necessary that clerics guide all the congregations, councils and departments. It is a pity that there are no women among the lay people in the Council for the Economy. The specialists were chosen before I started as coordinator, but I will search for women to serve in this role.

For the first time ever in the Vatican, our council has lay people with the same responsibilities and rights as the cardinals. It does not seem like a big thing, but great things begin with small steps, right?

I say it and repeat it also in my diocese: Please see what you can do to bring lay people, especially women, into positions of responsibility in diocesan administration. We have made a plan for the Catholic Church in Germany to have more leading positions in diocesan administrations to be fulfilled by women. In three years we will look at what has been done.

On this issue we must make a great effort for the future, not only to be modern or to imitate the world, but in realizing that this exclusion of women is not in the spirit of the Gospel. Sometimes the development of the world gives us a hint—vox temporis vox Dei (“the voice of the time is the voice of God”). The development in the world gives us signs, the signs of the time. John XXIII and the Second Vatican Council said we must interpret the signs of the time in light of the Gospel. One of these signs is the rights of women, the emancipation of women. John XXIII said it more than 50 years ago. We are always on the way to fulfilling it.

Progress is not apparent.

Sometimes it has become worse!

What impediment needs to be overcome?

Mentality! Mentality! Mentality! And the decisions of those responsible. It is clear: The bishops have to decide. The bishops and the Holy Father have to begin the change. I was very often in seminars or courses for heads of companies, and that was always clear: the stairs are cleaned from above, not from below—top down, not bottom up. So the leaders must begin; the chiefs must begin. The mentality must change. The church is not a business, but the methods are not so different. We have to work more in teams, in projects. The question is: Who has the resources to bring these ideas forward? Not: Who is clerical? God gives us all these people, and we say, “No, he is not cleric, he cannot do this job, or his idea is not so important.” That is not acceptable. No, no, no.

Pope Francis will make his first visit to the United States in September. What is your hope for the visit?

I am always astonished by the pope’s capacity to bring people together and to inspire them. I hope the people in the United States can experience this too. One of the main tasks and challenges for a bishop, and for the pope, is to bring people together and unify the world. The church is instrumentum unitatis, an instrument and sacrament of unity among the people and between God and the people. I hope that when the pope visits the United States—and possibly the United Nations—the church can show to the world that the church will be an instrument not for itself but for the unity of the nation and the world.

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Leonard Villa
9 years 1 month ago
The Cardinal remarks that the Pope has opened up "new paths." New paths to what to where? Yes a lot of people are talking about the pontificate but often for the wrong reasons, for example, that the Pope is going to overrule Catholic teaching the world finds repugnant especially in the area of sexuality which seems to trump everything. The world is always on its message on its "gospel." Are churchmen? Are religious? Laity? Or is the world too much in the bosom of the Church? It seems to me that the Church in certain sectors often is practicing "us tooism" to get the plaudits of the world. The Church is both bruised and clean. The cleanliness comes from the Lord and His grace and the Church is called the "pillar of truth" by the Word of God.1 Timothy 3:15 Is there really an either-or reality here? Isn't it both and? The truth is what sets people free but we struggle to live it hence the need for continuous conversion. Who is saying to homosexuals everything you do is negative? Gay ideology reduces the person to same-sex attraction making that attraction a metaphysical category. The Church on the other hand has always taught the dignity of individuals is based on the fact that they are human persons. Also there is the distinction of loves: the love which belongs to friendship and that which is specifically between man and woman. It is not a new phenomenon that couples who cohabit or are in a civil marriage seek out the sacrament. Every parish priest has experienced this convalidating marriages. Convalidations, though, are not what is at issue in the discussion of the Synod. The Lord's teaching on divorce and remarriage is. There always seems to be the question on women but what about the crisis of men and fathers and educating boys in an era of an uncritical acceptance of secular feminism which often views men as the enemy? That crisis of men is the elephant in the room and the Church is not addressing it neither the Pope nor the bishops. Often the whole subject of women is treated in terms of masculine categories so that it is always in terms of male roles and activities and equality means women should have the same roles because the ideology in the air is gender ideology that men and women are identical. Karl Stern saw this many years ago in his book The Flight from Women. So much of the women-chatter is exactly a flight from women. Mentality? Okay what mentality? Regarding the issue of clerical and non clerical Lumen Gentium teaches the Church is hierarchical and inherent in that hierarchy is the Pope as Bishop of Rome and Bishop of the Catholic Church and the bishop's role to teach, govern, and sanctify. That cannot be finessed or democratized away. In fact the deep crisis the Church is in (worse than the Arian in my view) has been and is a crisis of bishops. The Synod on the Laity expressed the teaching that the primary role of the laity is the sanctification of the secular and not what roles can they occupy in the liturgy, in church-bureaucracy, middle-mangement, structures which have metastasized in the name of the Council and drown the Church in countless meetings and documents. Von Balthasar was correct in his assessment of church bureacracy in his book Der antirömische Affekt (The Anti-Roman Attitude) translated in English as The Office of Peter.
Paul Ferris
9 years 1 month ago
Jesus once summed up the important teaching for salvation: He said, Love God with your whole heart, mind, and whole strength; then He said the second is like the first, love your neighbor as yourself. This takes precedent over all the other things He said about the moral law. He asked Peter three times, "do you love me" and Peter answered you know that I love you. He said, feed my sheep. I think the long comment above is what the Cardinal means by all or nothing thinking. Love, in word and spirit does not enter into the above comment which invalidates it in my opinion. God is Love.
Anne Danielson
8 years 5 months ago
"Might we hope someday that the Holy Spirit will inspire the church to interpret the Bible differently? The Holy Spirit has inspired the church to change some very significant things in history." No, as there can only be One Spirit of Perfect Love Between The Father and The Son, in The Ordered Communion of Perfect Love, The Blessed Trinity, Who Was In The Beginning, Is Now, and Forever Will Be. To deny that God Is The Author of Love, Life, and Marriage, is to deny God.
Theodore Seeber
9 years 1 month ago
I'm afraid I don't see how removing the sacrament of marriage as we know it, to replace it with this modern "lifelong commitment", is useful or warranted. It seems to teach not truth- but rather lead people into untruth and heresy. Are we supposed to welcome in those whose entire lives are against Christ? And isn't it rather incongruous to admit serial adulterers to the Eucharist but ban those who have failed to pay their Church Tax?
Joe colletti
9 years ago
I want to thank sincerely, the Jesuit Religious Scholastic, Luke Hansen, S.J. for a well written but truly "controversial interview." Surely, its not controversial because of Luke Hansen, but in fact and in deed, Card Marx, who is very much "pro-Francis Effect." Because Card Marx says that we are headed in right direction with Francis or says that it is still the catholic church, doesn't show or mean that it is. I can not agree with anything Card Marx has said at all.He is nine years my junior in Sacred Ordination, and that tells me that he is part and parcel of the Vatican II Ecumenical Church. Bishop Morlino has stated the sit com so very well as other prelates of the Church, such as: Archbp Cordileone, Card Burke, and above all, Bishop Athanasius Schneider. The liberal, modernist, progressive avant-garde theologies, the Liberation Theology of South America where Bergoglio is from, the Socialism of the late Bishop Oscar Romero are and will continue to bring down the Catholic Church; its already at the mundane earthly level begun by the tragic destruction of the Roman Rite of Holy Mass from partying and desecration to the modern, masonic sanctuaries unrecognizable to the Catholic Faith and Religion. The irreverence and sacrilegious atmosphere to the precious and sacred Body and Blood of Our Lord in the Most Holy Eucharist is indeed an abomination and a horrific disgrace by priests and prelates alike, and the nonsense begun by last October's Synod enflamed by those on the Rhine only is a repeat of what happened at the Second Vatican Council of sad memory and everlasting remembrance of great misfortune for us in the Catholic Faith. The world invites and offers a totally different culture: an anti-God thrust in action, the New Age, the Age of the Godless, de-throning of God and the enthroning of man, the exultation of man. The Catholic Faith is the only TRUE FAITH. Our religion, our faith is not equal to other faith communities; there is only ONE CHURCH; THE CATHOLIC CHURCH!! and there is no salvation outside it. Until the other faith communities recognize this Supreme Truth in the Catholic Church, there isn't recognition of another religions celebration; they are not a part of us; they broke away in heresy by a priest, sadly.It almost sounds as if Bergoglio is go'in top off lutheranism with a canonization of martin luther. Vatican II began a new church, a new rite of service, and I refused to call it holy mass in all its Protestantesque characteristics. The New World Order and one religion just may happened because of the weak leadership of the Catholic Church given into protestantism and masonic influences, thanks to Bugnini, for one, along with the other liberals and modernists from the Rhine. The ultimate disgrace: the CAtholic Church conforms to the world, the secular and the signs of the times instead of the opposite. We are in perilous, pernicious trouble: the World, the US Government, if not other governments as well, and the Catholic Church. And, of course, one doesn't even mention Fatima; that would be horrible to do as Heaven, as God, as Our Lady has asked: THE CONSECRATION OF RUSSIA to Her Immaculate Heart for Russia's conversion, for world peace and for the Triumph of Her own Immaculate Heart juxtaposed to the Sacred and Loving Heart of Her Divine Son, Jesus, Our Lord, Our God! We expect good things from God, really, when legislatures pass Laws to kill babies, when same gender "marriage," as they are termed, happen with some legal approval, when we accept sodomy and adulterous, cohabitatious unions to be accepted and insist on "tolerance." The persecution has already begun for being a Christian, for being a CATHOLIC and adhering to Catholic principles, beliefs and morals. We can only expect punishment and chastisement from God, personally and collectively, locally, nationally, globally and ecclesiastically. The "ripple" effect of SIN, in all its forms, has multiplied beyond the enormous. God help us now! For our focus is NOT on HIM!!!
Luis Gutierrez
8 years 5 months ago
I think it is time to stop messing around with condescending statements about the importance of women in the Church, and start ordaining some nuns to the priesthood and the episcopate.

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