FRANKFURT, March 11, 2002 (LSN.ca) – Pope John Paul II has displayed a rarely-used papal power by stripping a German bishop of the control of a portion of his diocesan authority. On March 8, the Pope stripped Bishop Franz Kamphaus of the Limburg diocese of responsibility for abortion counseling and assumed personal responsibility for this area of pastoral activity.
The Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung reports that the Pope was forced to this drastic action after Bishop Kamphaus for years repeatedly refused the Pope’s orders to put an end to the handing out of counselling certificates to pregnant women who can use the certificates to obtain abortions. In a letter sent to Catholics in his diocese Thursday, Bishop Kamphaus wrote :“Ending conflict counseling for pregnant women in the diocese of Limburg leaves behind a deep wound, and not just for me. But it is not one that can be healed by my resignation. That would probably open it up even further.”
While he has not resigned as bishop of the diocese, Bishop Kamphaus remains publicly defiant. “The Pope bears the full responsibility for this decision in all forms. It is his decision, not mine,” he said.
See related LifeSite coverage: ONLY GERMAN BISHOP CONTINUING TO DEFY POPE ON ABORTION COUNSELLING https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2002/jan/020109.html#4
See the coverage from the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung: https://www.faz.com/IN/INtemplates/eFAZ/archive.asp?doc={38D0734B-F481-4808-8B94-4F4C414074BF} https://www.faz.com/IN/INtemplates/eFAZ/archive.asp?doc={3BD4C73B-D549-48CA-9258-9FCC407AF211}&width=1024&height=740&agt=explorer&ver=4&svr=4