Abuse: The umbrella organization of the church could stop ecclesiastical taxes on bishops

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No more church tax for stubborn bishops – this is the idea of ​​the president of the Roman Catholic Central Conference of Switzerland (RKZ). “I do not rule out that in the future we will refuse to pay the bishops money if there is too little movement.”

If all ten cantons, which provide the diocese of Basel with part of the church tax revenues, were to participate in this boycott, the bishop would lose 3.8 million francs – “he would therefore no longer be able to fulfill his duties,” said Renata Asal- Steger, chairman of the umbrella organization of the cantonal regional churches, in an interview with the “SonntagsZeitung”. The RKZ is the administrator of church taxes.

Abolition of compulsory celibacy

According to Asal-Steger, the church must reconsider women’s participation, the separation of powers in canon law and sexual morality to solve the problems. The fundamental structures that have enabled cases of abuse must be changed, Asal-Steger said.

In an interview with “Sonntagszeitung” she also calls for an end to mandatory celibacy for priests. “Anyone who believes this way of life is good for him or her should be able to continue living it, but it should no longer be a requirement for the priestly profession.”

She is also a member of the RKZ panel, which compensates victims of church abuse. The maximum amount for this is 20,000 francs.

(SDA/neo)

Source:Blick