Petition to sign
SAY IT LOUD, STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH MONIKA SCHMID! CELEBRATE TOGETHER IN HIS MEMORY!
In a solemn service on 28.8. the parish leader Monika Schmid of the parish of St. Martin in Effretikon was bid farewell by her large congregation after 37 successful years. During the high prayer, the whole team stood to gether at the altar and prayed. The Bishop of Chur calls this standing together at the altar abuse.
The Bishop of Chur announced on 2 September: “As diocesan bishop I have the duty to react to the events of the last weeks in connection with the retirement of the pastor of the parish of St. Martin, Illnau-Effretikon” (kath.ch on 2.9.2022).
We take note of this decision with great surprise. We stand in solidarity with Monika Schmid and all pastors who succeed in being liturgically Church in the world of today.
Pope Francis repeatedly warns against historicism in the Church. It is wrong, he says, to regard Church teaching as a monolith to be defended without nuance.
In the report on the synodal process, Switzerland reports to Rome that the liturgy is experienced as “incomprehensible, hardly related to experience and actuality, and not very inviting”. Shouldn’t we thank Monika Schmid for recognising this problem – and acting? Monika Schmid does nothing but fulfil the expectations formulated in the final document of the synodal process: “The language and forms of the liturgy should be adapted to the cultural contexts and its beauty and richness should be promoted in a more conscious and culturally appropriate way. The diversity of liturgical celebrations and spiritual forms is to be promoted in order to reach different people. The synodal dimension of the liturgy is to be more respected and clerical narrow-mindedness is to be discouraged.”
Still, on 31 August, Bishop Joseph Maria Bonnemain thanked Monika Schmid unreservedly for her 37 years of service as a pastor. The Bishop of Chur already knew in advance that she had celebrated and concelebrated the Eucharist several times, according to her own statements. But the Bishop of Chur only acted after public pressure.
Monika Schmid always acted responsibly. She was not concerned with protest and politics, but with an authentically lived spirituality. The Eucharistic celebration was led by a Capuchin priest. According to a newspaper report, the Capuchin broke the bread and took the chalice in his hand. This Father lived out of an indescribable depth of faith, says Monika Schmid. Out of this depth, he suggested that the prayers for the Eucharist be said together. The team agreed to this and all those involved were in agreement.
All over the world, the Catholic Church does not live in accordance with its own rules. There are double standards and double lives: from priests with mistresses to priests who have children. All this is tolerated as long as it remains hidden. Not to mention the abuse complex.
The Church does not like it when facts are stated in black and white and cannot be overlooked. Monika Schmid does not stand for double standards, but for transparency and synodality.
We say loudly: Be in solidarity with Monika Schmid! Celebrate together in gratitude and in His memory!
Sign if you agree that Monika Schmid should NOT become another victim of abuse of power.
Thank you for your support, Voices of Faith – Maria 2.0 from Schaan
