FRANKFURT, February 18, 2002 (LSN.ca) – Frankfurt’s Bishop Franz Kamphaus is the only one of the 27 German Catholic Bishops who continues to openly defy the Pope by persisting in offering counselling certificates to pregnant women who can use the certificates to obtain abortions. The Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung reports that the situation could be resolved as early as this week.
Church sources revealed to the paper that over the last few days the papal nuncio in Berlin, Giovanni Lajolo, has been participating in talks at the Vatican about what steps should be taken if Bishop Kamphaus refuses to resign himself to the Pope’s authority. The Spring Full Assembly of the German Episcopal Conference opened today in Stuttgart. Nuncio Lajolo is expected to seek talks with Bishop Kamphaus to discuss the matter.
Bishop Kamphaus rejected an offer to retire early voluntarily thus leaving Rome with the decision to either depose Kamphaus or at least relieve him of the responsibility for Caritas, the Catholic welfare organization handling the abortion counselling. The paper hints that Bishop Kamphaus may submit a resignation over the matter.
See the coverage in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung: https://www.faz.com/IN/INtemplates/eFAZ/docmain.asp?rub={B1311FCC-FBFB-11D2- B228-00105A9CAF88}&sub=&doc={1B381A03-2A5E-4417-AA8B-A8563F554C33}
See related LifeSite coverage: FRANKFURT BISHOP ONLY GERMAN BISHOP CONTINUING TO DEFY POPE ON ABORTION COUNSELLING https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2002/jan/020109.html#4