Embattled German bishops pick woman theologian as top Catholic administrator
Lay theologian Beate Gilles is the first woman to be elected as the general secretary of the German Catholic bishops conference. The move comes as bishops face calls to fully own up to scandals.
Beate Gilles is not only the first woman to take the top administrative post, but also the first lay person
The German Catholic Bishops Conference (DBK) elected a woman for the first time as the conference s top administrator on Tuesday, in a move aimed at modernizing the body.
Theologian Beate Gilles was appointed as general secretary of the conference, which is based in Bonn. After her election to the post, the 50-year-old noted her skills as a runner are also well suited to her new role.
January 11, 2021
CWN Editor s Note: Father Hans Langendörfer, the Jesuit priest who has been a key figure in the German bishops’ “synodal path,” has stepped down as secretary of the episcopal conference after nearly 25 years. He had announced his resignation last February, but his departure was delayed by the Covid epidemic.
The above note supplements, highlights, or corrects details in the original source (link above). About CWN news coverage.
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